USA 2026 World Cup Squad Guide

The last time the United States hosted a World Cup was 1994 — a tournament that introduced soccer to millions of Americans who had never watched the sport seriously. Three decades later, the USMNT returns to home soil as co-hosts with a generation of players who grew up watching that tournament, who went on to play in the best leagues in Europe, and who are the most talented American squad in history. Mauricio Pochettino — the manager who built Tottenham into a Champions League finalist and led PSG — is in charge of making it count.

In New York City, a US match at this World Cup is the biggest domestic sports event in years. The city runs on diverse communities, but for USMNT matches, the whole city watches together. Every bar, every fan zone, every TV screen.

USA's 2026 World Cup Squad — Full Roster

Goalkeepers

• Matt Turner — Nottingham Forest
• Patrick Schulte — Columbus Crew
• Ethan Horvath — Cardiff City

Defenders

• Sergino Dest — PSV Eindhoven
• Joe Scally — Borussia Mönchengladbach
• Antonee Robinson — Fulham
• Sam Vines — Royal Antwerp
• Miles Robinson — Atlanta United
• Chris Richards — Crystal Palace
• Mark McKenzie — Toulouse
• Tim Ream — Fulham

Midfielders

• Tyler Adams — Bournemouth (captain)
• Yunus Musah — AC Milan
• Weston McKennie — Juventus
• Luca de la Torre — Celta Vigo
• Malik Tillman — PSV Eindhoven
• Johnny Cardoso — Real Betis

Forwards

• Christian Pulisic — AC Milan
• Giovanni Reyna — Borussia Dortmund
• Folarin Balogun — Monaco
• Timothy Weah — Juventus
• Brandon Vazquez — Monterrey
• Josh Sargent — Norwich City
• Ricardo Pepi — PSV Eindhoven
• Cade Cowell — Guadalajara

Squad announced May 26. Check back for any late changes ahead of the June 1 FIFA deadline.

Key Players

Christian Pulisic — The Captain America

AC Milan's winger is the only American player who would start for a top-five European nation. His directness, his ability to score and create in elite European competition, and his leadership within the squad make him the non-negotiable starting point for everything Pochettino builds. When Pulisic is in form, the USA are a different team — capable of hurting anyone.

Giovanni Reyna — The Talent

Borussia Dortmund's Reyna is the most technically gifted player in the American game — the one who makes things happen in spaces where other players see nothing. His injury history has been the frustrating shadow over an otherwise brilliant career. At this World Cup, if he stays fit and Pochettino uses him correctly, Reyna could be the player who makes the USA genuinely exciting to watch.

Tyler Adams — The Captain

Bournemouth's Adams is the engine room — press-resistant, intelligent, constantly available for a pass. He is the player who makes everyone around him look better and who sets the defensive organization for the whole team. His leadership as captain has been unquestioned since he became a regular starter.

Yunus Musah — The Engine

AC Milan's midfielder gives the USA a technically excellent box-to-box option alongside Adams. His ability to carry the ball forward, combine in tight spaces, and contribute at both ends makes the American midfield genuinely functional at international level — not just competitive, but capable of controlling games.

USA's Group Stage Schedule

• June 12 — USA vs Paraguay, AT&T Stadium, Dallas
• June 19 — USA vs Australia, TBC
• June 24 — USA vs Türkiye, TBC

As co-hosts, the USA's group stage is spread across US venues. None of their group matches are at MetLife, but knockout round matches could bring them to New York — and every match will feel like a home game regardless of venue.

Where NYC Watches the USA

There is no "USA fan neighborhood" in NYC the way there's a Little Senegal or a Koreatown. The whole city watches together. The borough fan zones, Hudson Yards Big Screen, Rockefeller Center, and every soccer bar in Manhattan will be at maximum capacity for the opening match against Paraguay on June 12. This is the second match of the entire tournament — the day after the opening ceremony in Mexico City. New York will be electric.