SouthernWorldwide.com – The official roster for the United States men’s national soccer team (USMNT) for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was unveiled Tuesday afternoon at Pier 17 in Manhattan, with Christian Pulisic set to lead the 26 players who will represent the nation on home soil.
The announcement, however, was met with significant discussion online due to several notable omissions, particularly in the midfield. These absences became a talking point after the roster was reportedly leaked over Memorial Day weekend.
For many observers, the most surprising exclusions from what is Mauricio Pochettino’s first World Cup squad were midfielders Diego Luna and Tanner Tessman. Neither player was among the 26 selected to take the stage at Pier 17.
Tanner Tessman, a 24-year-old who has featured in the last six matches under Pochettino, recently sustained a muscle strain while playing for his club, Lyon, in France. Despite this, the injury was not anticipated to prevent him from participating in the World Cup. Many had considered him a strong contender for a defensive midfield spot, given his consistent presence in recent USMNT fixtures.
With Tessman’s exclusion, Tyler Adams, the captain of the USMNT during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, is the sole defensive midfielder named on the roster.
Perhaps even more surprising was the decision to leave out Diego Luna. The Real Salt Lake star has demonstrated impressive scoring ability on the international stage, coupled with a tenacious playing style well-suited for the World Cup. Luna was widely expected to make the squad, especially after being featured in promotional advertisements for the World Cup by Nike, although U.S. Soccer had not officially confirmed player appearances in such materials.
Luna is a popular figure among fans, but Pochettino ultimately opted for other attacking midfielders.
Other players who were considered potential candidates for the squad but did not make the final cut include midfielder Yunus Musah, who played in the 2022 World Cup, and striker Josh Sargent. Additionally, Aidan Morris and 19-year-old Zavier Gozo were not selected.
Pochettino’s focus was on selecting the 26 players he deemed most suitable to represent the U.S. on home soil for the first time since 1994. This tournament marks a historic occasion, as it will be the first FIFA World Cup to be hosted across three countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. North America will welcome the 48 best teams in the world under a new format that includes an additional knockout round.
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It is important to note that roster substitutions are permissible up until June 1. This means there is still a possibility for changes to be made before the USMNT’s opening match against Paraguay, scheduled for June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
The USMNT squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is as follows:
GOALKEEPERS
STRIKERS
MIDFIELDERS
ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS/WINGERS
DEFENDERS
This group will commence their World Cup campaign against Paraguay on June 12. They will then face Australia on June 19 in Seattle, followed by a match against Turkiye on June 25 in Los Angeles, as part of their Group D fixtures.
