AUSTIN, TEXAS - The anticipation surrounding the announcement of the United States Men's National Team (USMNT) World Cup squad has been met with mixed reactions. Following numerous leaks regarding player selections, The Guardian reported on Saturday the full 26-player roster that manager Mauricio Pochettino is expected to take to the 2026 World Cup. This information comes from multiple sources and has been closely monitored by soccer enthusiasts.

Leaked USMNT Squad Details

The leaked squad includes three goalkeepers: Chris Brady from Chicago Fire, Matt Freese from New York City, and Matt Turner from New England Revolution. The defenders consist of Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Sergiño Dest (PSV), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach), and Auston Trusty (Celtic).

In the midfield, Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Weston McKennie (Juventus), and Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders) are included. The attacking midfielders and wingers are Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Christian Pulisic (Milan), Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen), Tim Weah (Marseille), and Alejandro Zendejas (Club América). Finally, the strikers are Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV), and Haji Wright (Coventry City).

Surprises and Speculations

Among the notable surprises in the squad are the exclusions of defensive midfielder Tanner Tessman and attacker Diego Luna, while Alejandro Zendejas and Gio Reyna made the cut. With the official announcement still pending, Pochettino has not yet provided an explanation for his selections. However, the choices made in this roster suggest a departure from his usual squad patterns, raising questions about his strategic approach for the upcoming tournament.

As the June 1 deadline approaches, the squad may still undergo changes due to potential injuries or other factors. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how Pochettino's selections evolve as the World Cup draws nearer.