Pochettino Unveils USMNT World Cup Roster; Luna Omission Dominates Headlines
Mauricio Pochettino finally revealed the United States men's national team squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but the biggest talking point quickly became the players who were left out. Real Salt Lake star Diego Luna was one of the most surprising absences from the 26-man roster, even after his strong performances during the 2025 Gold Cup and his impressive MLS season. Fans at Pier 17 in New York openly showed their disappointment during the squad reveal event, where hundreds gathered to celebrate the announcement.
The roster ceremony felt more like a concert and fan festival. Players walked onto the stage one by one while supporters cheered loudly in the background. Rapper Gunna also appeared during the event as fans enjoyed the sunny afternoon ahead of the World Cup on home soil.
While stars like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, and Antonee Robinson were always expected to make the squad, Luna's omission immediately became the biggest story around Mauricio Pochettino's selection. According to The Guardian, the final squad list had already leaked before the official event, which increased the discussion around the surprise decisions.
Pochettino Explains Difficult Choices; Fan Backlash for Luna
During the live broadcast on Fox Sports, one supporter even held up a sign saying, "Poch We Want Diego Luna." Soon after, Mauricio Pochettino addressed the difficult decisions behind building the roster.
"When I was a player, I missed two World Cups, 1994 and 1998," Pochettino said. "But I kept working and in 2002, I made the roster and I played in the World Cup. It's all about belief."
He also admitted how emotionally difficult the process had been. "It's true that it's very disappointing for the people that are not here. I didn't sleep for two weeks because we care about the people and we care about our players," he added.
Luna's exclusion shocked many because he was one of the United States' brightest players during the 2025 Gold Cup. He also scored four goals and added one assist in nine MLS matches this season despite injury concerns earlier in the year.
Reyna and Berhalter Make the Cut Despite Controversy
Meanwhile, Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Gio Reyna made the team despite struggling with injuries and poor club form over the last few years. Reyna finished the season with only one goal and one assist in 20 appearances.
Another interesting inclusion was Sebastian Berhalter, son of former USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter. His selection became even more noticeable because Gio Reyna's family had previously filed a complaint against Gregg Berhalter after the 2022 World Cup, creating one of the biggest controversies in American soccer.
The squad also includes several World Cup debutants, including Chris Richards, Miles Robinson, Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, and Sebastian Berhalter. Pepi returns after missing the 2022 World Cup, while Balogun continues his rise with the national team after switching from England in 2023.
The United States will now travel to Atlanta for training camp before friendly matches against Senegal and Germany. Their World Cup journey officially begins in Los Angeles against Paraguay in the group stage.
