Midfielder Tanner Tessman has been removed from the U.S. men’s national team squad for the 2026 World Cup, while Club America winger Alejandro Zendejas and Seattle Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan are both on the 26-man squad, people briefed on the roster decisions said. The Athletic.
The team also includes three players who were not included in the 2022 World Cup squad. Center back Myles Robinson missed the match against Qatar with an Achilles tendon injury. Center back Chris Richards was also absent due to injury. And forward Ricardo Pepi was widely considered one of the finalists from the 2022 team.
Gio Reyna is also included, as reported Friday night. The Athletic.
It would be the biggest shock to see Tesman removed from the team. The 24-year-old midfielder has participated in six camps under US manager Mauricio Pochettino and started 22 of Lyon’s 29 Ligue 1 games this season, as well as nine games in the Europa League (including five starts).
Many saw Tessman as a candidate to start this World Cup. The versatile midfielder, who can also play as a centre-back in a pinch, was released to Lyon at the end of the season due to injury, but officials remain confident Tessmann will be fit for the World Cup if he remains fit.
The complete list was first reported in guardian It was independently verified by multiple sources earlier Saturday. The Athletic. U.S. Soccer declined to comment.
Players were informed of their squad decisions on Friday. According to reports, Diego Luna was also a player left out. The Athletic on Friday night. Luna also suffers from muscle injuries.
There were no other major surprises on the team, half of whom played for the United States in Qatar four years ago.
Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed USMNT roster for World Cup (Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)
The 26 players selected include goalkeeper Matt Freese, who is likely to be the No. 1 player in the tournament, as well as Chicago Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady, who is a regular under Pochettino.
Veteran captain Tim Ream will join Richards, Auston Trusty, Robinson and Mark McKenzie at centre-back.
Pochettino has brought in a number of players who can play as full-backs or wing-backs, including Anthony Robinson, Sergiño Dest, Alex Freeman, Joe Scally and Max Alfsten.
Tessman’s absence and the absence of Middlesbrough midfielder Aidan Morris means the team will be a little thinner in central midfield, with Roldan adding Sebastian Berhalter and Tyler Adams to his squad. Weston McKennie is also in the squad and can play deep in midfield, but has been used primarily in an attacking midfield position recently.
The attacking midfield includes star players Christian Pulisic, Malik Tillman, Reyna, Tim Weah, Brenden Aaronson and Zendejas. Tillman could also play a deeper role in midfield.
Club America winger Zendejas has had a great season in Liga MX. He was with four teams under Pochettino in 2024 and 2025, but hasn’t been with the USMNT since October, so he’s probably one of the big surprises on the roster.
The front group is led by Folarin Balogun, but also includes Pepi and 2022 World Cup scorer Haji Wright. Each had a successful club season, with Balogun and Pepi scoring 19 goals in all competitions, and Wright scoring 18.
The roster will be formally announced Tuesday afternoon at an event at Pier 17 on Manhattan’s East River. The players will then fly to Atlanta and set up camp at U.S. Soccer’s new National Training Center in Fayette County, Georgia, north of the city.
The 26-man group is subject to change if there are any injuries this weekend. And although the federation’s announcement will be made on Tuesday, there is no binding on Pochettino to set the final 26-man squad on that day. Official rosters must be submitted to FIFA by June 1, at which point they will be final. According to FIFA rules, players can be substituted after the deadline “only in case of serious injury or illness”.
The United States will play two games against Senegal in Charlotte on May 31st, then a send-off friendly against Germany in Chicago on June 6th before traveling to Southern California and World Cup base camp in Irvine, California. The first game of the group stage will be against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium outside Los Angeles. Group D games will be against Australia on June 19th at Lumen Field in Seattle, followed by Turkey on June 25th at SoFi.
USMNT World Cup Full Roster
Goalkeeper (3): Matt Freeze, Matt Turner, Chris Brady
Center back (5): Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Mark McKenzie, Auston Trusty, Miles Robinson
Fullback (5): Anthony Robinson, Sergiño Dest, Alex Freeman, Joe Scully, Max Alfsten
Central midfielder: (4): Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Christian Roldan, Sebastian Berhalter
Attacking midfielder/winger (6): Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, Malik Tillman, Gio Reyna, Brenden Aaronson, Alejandro Zendejas
Strikers (3): Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Haji Wright
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