USMNT 26 Reportedly Leaked: Pulisic, Balogun and Pepi Lead a 10-First-Time Roster, Official Announcement Tuesday
A 26-name USMNT World Cup roster has reportedly leaked via Footy Access on Instagram, with 10 first-time World Cup selections. Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi lead the attack. Matt Turner is the senior name in goal alongside two MLS-based debutants. The squad is unofficial until US Soccer's expected Tuesday announcement, with the FIFA final-squad deadline still June 1.
A reported USMNT 26-man roster for the 2026 World Cup leaked overnight via the Footy Access account on Instagram. Ten of the 26 names would be first-time World Cup selections, signalling the scale of the generational turnover under Mauricio Pochettino since Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022. The roster is unofficial. US Soccer's expected announcement is on Tuesday, May 26, with FIFA's mandatory final-squad submission deadline still June 1.
Caveats first
Until US Soccer publishes its own list, every name below is reported, not confirmed. Federation sources have not authenticated the Footy Access post and it is possible the announcement on Tuesday differs at the margins. Treat the squad as a strong indicator rather than a closed list. The Stars and Stripes open as co-hosts against Paraguay in Inglewood on June 12.
The reported 26 (asterisk = first-time World Cup selection)
Goalkeepers (3): Chris Brady* (Chicago Fire, 0/0), Matt Freese* (NYCFC, 14/0), Matt Turner (New England Revolution, 53/0). Defenders (10): Max Arfsten* (Columbus Crew, 18/1), Sergiño Dest (PSV, 37/2), Alex Freeman* (Villarreal, 15/2), Mark McKenzie* (Toulouse, 27/0), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC, 80/1), Chris Richards* (Crystal Palace, 36/3), Antonee Robinson (Fulham, 52/4), Miles Robinson* (FC Cincinnati, 38/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach, 24/0), Auston Trusty* (Celtic, 6/0). Midfielders (4): Tyler Adams (Bournemouth, 52/2), Sebastian Berhalter* (Vancouver Whitecaps, 11/1), Weston McKennie (Juventus, 64/12), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders, 45/0). Attacking midfielders/wingers (6): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United, 57/9), Christian Pulisic (Milan, 84/32), Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach, 36/9), Malik Tillman* (Bayer Leverkusen, 28/3), Tim Weah (Marseille, 49/7), Alejandro Zendejas* (Club América, 13/2). Strikers (3): Folarin Balogun* (AS Monaco, 25/8), Ricardo Pepi* (PSV, 35/13), Haji Wright (Coventry City, 20/7).
Ten first-timers
Ten of the 26 names would be travelling to a first World Cup: Brady, Freese, Arfsten, Freeman, McKenzie, Richards, Miles Robinson, Trusty, Berhalter, Tillman, Zendejas, Balogun and Pepi. That is the spine of a youth-anchored squad. The headline call here is Folarin Balogun, who switched international allegiance from England to the US in 2023 and now goes to his first World Cup. Sebastian Berhalter, son of former head coach Gregg Berhalter, also makes the list and represents one of the surprises if confirmed.
Pulisic, McKennie, Adams anchor the experience
The senior spine is unchanged. Christian Pulisic carries 84 caps and 32 goals into the tournament from his Milan campaign. Weston McKennie's 64/12 from Juventus and Tyler Adams' 52/2 from Bournemouth provide midfield experience. Tim Ream's 80 caps for Charlotte FC are the most of any defender named. Matt Turner remains the senior goalkeeper, though the reported call-ups of Chris Brady and Matt Freese ahead of more experienced options point at a long-term reshape of the keeping order.
Reyna and Aaronson back in
Two notable returns: Gio Reyna at Borussia Mönchengladbach after seasons of intermittent involvement under previous regimes, and Brenden Aaronson at Leeds after the Premier League promotion. Both have direct experience of an attacking USMNT system and could feature off the bench as wide creators.
What still needs confirming
US Soccer's formal announcement was widely briefed for Tuesday, May 26. Until then this is a Footy Access leak, however accurate it has historically been on US roster news. The FIFA final-squad submission window closes on June 1. We will update the team page on /teams/usa/ as the official list lands.
Group D and the schedule
The USMNT open Group D as co-hosts against Paraguay in Inglewood on June 12, then face Australia in Seattle on June 18 and Türkiye in Foxborough on June 24. Top spot is the route to the friendlier side of the new 32-team knockout bracket.
Reporting: Footy Access on Instagram, May 23, 2026. Official US Soccer announcement expected Tuesday, May 26.