The time is almost here for the USMNT to announce its roster for the 2026 World Cup.
There are no remaining matches for the U.S.A. to play before Mauricio Pochettino announces his roster selection. All pre-selection friendlies have already been played, and players have all made their cases known for the roster decision.
With injuries to key players such as Patrick Agyemang and question marks surrounding who is the #1 goalkeeper or #1 center forward, the roster selection won't answer any of the lineup questions, but it will challenge a few misconceptions fans may have around who Poch doesn't value.
Here's everything you need to know about the roster reveal.
The USMNT World Cup roster is announced shortly before the tournament
The USMNT is set to announce its final roster on May 26. It will be officially announced for the first time in New York City.
Final World Cup rosters are typically announced towards the end of May or even early June. There is, of course, a difference in FIFA legislation compared to federation targets. So, while the U.S.A. is aiming to announce the World Cup roster for May 26, they may not be the first or the last country to do so. May 26 is a target, not legislation.
Before the final roster is announced, expect there to be a preliminary squad. It is common practice to put together a preliminary squad a few weeks before the final roster is announced. The final roster will be a shorter version of the preliminary one.
Key FIFA rules that determine roster announcement & timing
- May 11: FIFA requires preliminary lists
- May 25: FIFA requires clubs to release selected players
- May 25 - June 1: Final squads are announced
FIFA expects all final squads to be reduced to a maximum of 26 players (with a minimum of 23), no later than June 1, 2026. Where the final squads are public, preliminary squads are not.
Final squads are expected to be 'final,' but FIFA does allow for some flexibility there. If a player makes the final squad but suffers from a serious injury or illness, they can be replaced in the squad. They will likely be replaced by a player who made the preliminary list but not the final squad.
Clubs can make changes to their final squad, based on serious injury/illness, no later than 24 hours before the club plays their first match.
How the US Soccer Federation typically handles announcements
When the World Cup was last played in 2022, the USA announced its squad on November 9. This was eleven days prior to the tournament taking place.
In 2022, the U.S.A. used the highest squad capacity available, naming 26 players. Greg Berhalter surprised a lot of people by naming plenty of youth in his team, but given that the U.S.A. underperformed, it was a risk that some would argue, in hindsight, wasn't worth taking.
It is highly anticipated that the U.S.A. will use the same 26-man capacity in this year's tournament. However, Mauricio Pochettino is likely to include more senior players than Berhalter did four years ago.
What factors influence final roster decisions
It goes without saying that the best ability is availability. If a player is injured, like Patrick Agyemang, they cannot make the final roster.
Other than availability, form plays the biggest factor. The players in the best form for the USMNT and their clubs, for example Folarin Balogun and Chris Richards, will make the roster.
Mauricio Pochettino will also seek balance in his squad. He is a head coach who leans into wide players a lot, particularly when the USMNT operates a three-at-the-back formation. Without loads of wide players to choose from, they may have an easier time making the roster than central players.
Some players, for example Gio Reyna, are seasoned pros with the USMNT but have struggled to make minutes for their domestic clubs. Poch will strike the right balance between seniority and exciting youth, but it's harder to make a case for a player when they aren't looked at twice by their team.
What happens after the USMNT roster is announced
Now we wait. We sit twiddling our thumbs, watching paint dry, and rehearsing the chants we're going to be signing this summer. Or, do we?
Before the World Cup officially commences for the U.S.A. (their first match being on June 12 against Paraguay), they will lace up their boots for two friendlies against Senegal and Germany.
Date | Game |
|---|---|
May 31 | U.S.A. vs Senegal (Friendly) |
June 6 | U.S.A. vs Germany (Friendly) |
June 12 | U.S.A. vs Paraguay (World Cup) |
June 19 | U.S.A. vs Australia (World Cup) |
June 25 | Turkiye vs U.S.A. (World Cup) |
As it stands, the U.S.A. has five confirmed games this summer. They will face Senegal and Germany (who last won this competition in 2014, beating Argentina in the final) in friendlies, before three group stage games against Paraguay, Australia, and Turkiye.
The USMNT is widely tipped to make it out of Group D. It would be a severe underachievement if they don't, and one that would place question marks on the legitimacy of the players and head coach. Turkiye is probably the favorite to top the group, but USMNT shouldn't be too far behind.
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