Mauricio Pochettino to Announce USMNT World Cup Roster on May 26
U.S. Soccer will announce the official World Cup roster for the US Men’s National Team (USMNT) on Tuesday, May 26. The final 26-player squad will be revealed live on FOX, marking an exciting day for soccer fans in the United States.
The announcement event will take place at The Rooftop at Pier 17 in New York City, featuring a fan gathering from 1 PM to 3 PM ET. The broadcast will follow from 3 PM to 4 PM ET, ahead of the USMNT’s upcoming matches against Senegal on May 31 and Germany on June 6.
Pochettino Faces Key Decisions Ahead of World Cup
Photo by DIRK WAEM / BELGA MAG / Belga / AFP via Getty Images
This timing provides Pochettino with a crucial final checkpoint before the World Cup opener against Paraguay, set for June 12 at the Los Angeles Stadium.
The roster is anticipated to include at least three strikers, as Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, and Haji Wright have all made strong cases for inclusion based on their recent club performances.
Balogun has scored 19 goals this season, including eight in his last 11 games, while Pepi boasts 17 goals, having netted four in his last three matches.
Wright has also reached 17 goals, presenting the Argentine head coach with a solid group. However, Pochettino still has important decisions to make regarding player hierarchy and minutes on the field.
The midfield situation has become less certain due to Johnny Cardoso’s high-grade right ankle sprain while with Atletico Madrid, putting his World Cup status in jeopardy.
With Cardoso potentially unavailable, Cristian Roldan, Tanner Tessmann, and Aidan Morris are among the players who may have strengthened their cases in his absence.
Goalkeeper selection is also under scrutiny. Matt Freese is currently favored for the starting position, though Chris Brady, Matt Turner, Patrick Schulte, and Roman Celentano remain in contention for the role.