USMNT 26 Confirmed: Pochettino Locks In Pulisic, Balogun and Pepi, Roster Matches Last Week's Leak
Mauricio Pochettino officially confirmed the United States 26-man roster for the 2026 World Cup at an event in New York City on Tuesday. The roster matches the leaked list reported via Footy Access on Instagram last week. Ten first-time World Cup selections, with Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi leading. Friendlies vs Senegal in Charlotte and Germany in Chicago precede the June 12 opener against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium.
M auricio Pochettino made the United States 2026 World Cup roster official at an event in New York City on Tuesday, days after the 26-man list leaked through multiple outlets. The roster matches the Footy Access list we covered on May 23 in full. Ten of the 26 are first-time World Cup selections. Final FIFA submission is still due by June 1, so substitutions remain possible.
The full 26 (* = first-time World Cup selection)
Goalkeepers (3): Chris Brady* (Chicago Fire, 0 caps/0 goals), Matt Freese* (New York City, 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 (AFC 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).
What the official confirmation changes
Practically nothing. The 26 names are identical to the leaked roster posted by Footy Access on May 23. What does change: with the formal US Soccer announcement, the roster moves from "leaked indicator" to "federation-confirmed", which means we have lifted the noindex flag we had on USMNT player pages while the squad was still preliminary. Final FIFA submission is on or before June 1, so any late injury could still trigger a substitution.
Ten first-time World Cup names
Brady, Freese, Arfsten, Freeman, McKenzie, Richards, Miles Robinson, Trusty, Berhalter, Tillman, Zendejas, Balogun and Pepi all travel to a first World Cup. That is the spine of a youth-anchored squad. The Folarin Balogun call-up is the marquee item, completing the 2023 international-allegiance switch from England in time for a senior debut on home soil. Sebastian Berhalter, son of former head coach Gregg, is the family-line surprise.
Pulisic, McKennie, Adams hold the spine
Christian Pulisic remains the captain in form. The Milan forward carries 84 caps and 32 goals into the tournament. Weston McKennie's 64/12 from Juventus and Tyler Adams' 52/2 from Bournemouth provide midfield ballast. Tim Ream's 80 caps at Charlotte FC are the most of any defender in the squad. Matt Turner remains senior in goal alongside two MLS debutants.
Friendlies and the schedule
The USMNT play two friendlies before the tournament. On Sunday they meet Senegal in Charlotte. The send-off comes on June 6 against Germany in Chicago. World Cup play opens on June 12 against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, then Australia at Lumen Field in Seattle on June 19, and Türkiye back at SoFi Stadium on June 25.
Quick facts
Head coach: Mauricio Pochettino. Captain: Christian Pulisic. Reveal: New York City, May 26, 2026. FIFA final submission: on or before June 1.
Reporting: U.S. Soccer / The Athletic, May 26, 2026.