Mauricio Pochettino has unveiled his 26-man roster for the USMNT World Cup squad competing on home soil this summer, and the selection raises immediate questions about squad balance, midfielder depth, and the manager's shifting priorities. While the core group of Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams remain central to the setup, several notable omissions and unexpected inclusions have sparked debate among national team observers.
The squad contains the usual attacking talent and experienced defenders like Tim Ream and Chris Richards, but midfield depth emerges as the primary vulnerability. With Tyler Adams as the only true holding midfielder—a player with a concerning injury history—the absence of Tanner Tessmann represents a significant risk. Both Tessmann and Yunus Musah have made compelling cases for inclusion, yet neither cracked the final roster. This creates a thin contingency plan should Adams suffer an injury during the tournament.
The Biggest Snubs
Diego Luna stands as the most glaring omission. The winger had become a fixture in USMNT advertising campaigns and performed effectively for the national team under Pochettino in recent qualifiers. His domestic form in MLS remained solid this season, making his exclusion particularly puzzling given the manager's previous emphasis on his importance. Luna's absence signals a philosophical shift from the Gold Cup squad that featured him prominently.
Beyond Luna, Gio Reyna's inclusion—reportedly granted an exception to the selection criteria—raises fairness questions about midfielder competition. If Reyna qualified through special consideration, why couldn't similar flexibility extend to Musah or Tessmann? The inconsistency in selection logic fuels skepticism about Pochettino's methodology.
The Surprising Addition
Alejandro Zendejas represents the most curious selection decision. Pochettino consistently deflected questions about the Club América playmaker at press conferences throughout his tenure, appearing to sideline him from national team planning. His sudden inclusion after months of apparent indifference suggests either a late tactical realization or organizational pressure to include Mexican-American talent. Whether Zendejas actually features in matches remains genuinely uncertain.
The squad ultimately prioritizes established experience and proven performers, which makes tactical sense for a World Cup. However, the omission of midfielder depth contradicts Pochettino's earlier promises regarding squad construction and MLS representation. Success in knockout competition often depends on bench strength, and the USMNT's current midfield contingencies look dangerously thin if injuries strike. How deep the team advances will partly depend on whether that calculated risk in center midfield pays off or becomes the tournament's defining regret.
