Mauricio Pochettino has made his picks. The US Men’s National Team head coach revealed his 26-player roster on May 26 for the FIFA World Cup 2026, a tournament the US will co-host alongside Canada and Mexico. The squad includes Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, and Folarin Balogun, names that American soccer fans have been building their hopes around for years.
Half the roster has never played in a World Cup. Thirteen of the 26 players selected will be making their tournament debuts. The opening match against Paraguay kicks off June 12 in Los Angeles.
The roster and its makeup
That 2018 miss still haunts the program. It cost then-coach Bruce Arena his job and triggered a full-scale youth movement that eventually produced this generation of players. Many of them ply their trade in Europe’s top leagues, a shift from previous eras when the USMNT relied heavily on MLS-based talent.
The expanded 48-team format for 2026 means more matches and a longer tournament. Squad depth matters more than ever, which partially explains why Pochettino has loaded up on versatile players who can cover multiple positions.
