U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team Announces 2026 World Cup Roster

The U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team has finalized its 26-man roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the country will co-host alongside Canada and Mexico. The announcement was made Tuesday at an event in New York City, following months of evaluation by head coach Mauricio Pochettino. The tournament will begin next month, with the U.S. playing its first group stage match on June 12 against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The roster features a blend of experienced World Cup veterans and first-time participants. Among the returning players are Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams, all of whom played in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Pulisic, often regarded as the face of the team and nicknamed “Captain America,” expressed gratitude for the support and acknowledged the pressure of representing the country again. “I don’t have a clear answer,” Pulisic said on a Fox broadcast after the announcement. “All I can do is give my best. I’m so proud to represent this country and I’m going to do my best to make you guys proud.”

The squad includes three goalkeepers: Matt Freese of New York City FC and Chris Brady of Chicago Fire, both making their World Cup debuts, and Matt Turner of New England Revolution, who was the starting goalkeeper in 2022. The defensive lineup features Premier League players Antonee Robinson and Chris Richards, Bundesliga’s Joe Scally, and several others making their first World Cup appearances, such as Alex Freeman and Miles Robinson, who missed the previous tournament due to injury.

Midfielders include seasoned players like Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie, as well as newcomers such as Sebastian Berhalter, son of former USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter. The attacking midfield and winger positions are anchored by Pulisic, Tim Weah, and Gio Reyna, among others. The forward line features first-timers Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi, alongside Haji Wright, who scored in the 2022 knockout stage.

The U.S. team will compete in Group D alongside Paraguay, Australia, and Turkey. Group stage matches run from June 11 to June 27, with the knockout rounds starting June 28. Since 1990, the U.S. has advanced beyond the round of 16 only once, reaching the quarterfinals in 2002. The team aims to improve on its 2022 performance, where it reached the round of 16 before losing 3-1 to the Netherlands.

Mauricio Pochettino, who took over as head coach in July 2024 after Gregg Berhalter’s departure, acknowledged the difficulty in selecting the final roster. “It’s so, so difficult to pick 26 (players) … but now we need to move on. That is soccer and we need to look forward for the future and the World Cup,” he said. When asked about the possibility of the U.S. winning its first World Cup, Pochettino responded, “Why not us? Why not us? It’s important to really believe. In this sport, the first thing is to believe and then to work really hard to try to earn what you want.”