Christian Pulisic
The face of the host nation. The AC Milan forward is the USA's biggest goal threat and creative spark, and the player opponents will plan around first. So much of the home campaign rests on his form.
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Team Guide · 2026 World Cup
USA at the 2026 World Cup
The United States arrive at the 2026 World Cup as co-hosts, carrying the weight and the lift of a home tournament. Under Mauricio Pochettino, the 26-man squad is led by talisman Christian Pulisic and captained by veteran Tim Ream, blending the core that reached the 2022 last 16 with a wave of first-time World Cup players. They land in Group D with Paraguay, Australia and Turkey, and play all three group games on home soil. This is the squad by position, the group, the fixtures and a realistic ceiling for the USMNT.
Host
Co-Host Nation
26
The Squad
D
Group
13
2022 Returnees
Squad confirmed. Mauricio Pochettino named the USA's 26 in late May 2026. The headline calls: Gio Reyna is back in, Diego Luna is among those left out, and 38-year-old Tim Ream is captain. Around 13 players return from the 2022 round-of-16 squad, with 13 set for their first World Cup. The USA open against Paraguay on 12 June at SoFi Stadium.
The Key Players
The spine of Pochettino's USA
The USMNT's 2026 squad leans on a Europe-based core that has grown up together, fronted by the country's biggest star. These are the names the home tournament will turn on.
Tyler Adams
The midfield anchor. The Bournemouth man does the defensive work that lets the USA's attackers play, screening the back line and setting the tone for the press.
Weston McKennie
The all-action presence. The Juventus midfielder brings energy, goals from deep and big-game experience, and is central to how Pochettino wants the USA to control games.
Antonee Robinson
The flying left-back. The Fulham defender is one of the quickest full-backs in the Premier League and gives the USA width, overlaps and recovery pace down the flank.
Folarin Balogun
The centre-forward option. The Monaco striker gives Pochettino a genuine number nine to lead the line, with Ricardo Pepi and Haji Wright offering contrasting profiles in support.
Tim Ream
The captain and calm head. At 38, the Charlotte FC defender brings leadership and composure to a back line that mixes seasoned names with younger options.
The 26
The USA squad by position
Here is the United States' confirmed 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup as named by Mauricio Pochettino: three goalkeepers, ten defenders, seven midfielders and six forwards. Tim Ream is captain. Clubs are shown for each name.
Goalkeepers
3 in the squad
- Matt TurnerNew England
- Matt FreeseNYCFC
- Chris BradyChicago Fire
Defenders
10 in the squad
- Tim ReamCaptain
- Antonee RobinsonFulham
- Chris RichardsCrystal Palace
- Sergiño DestPSV
- Miles RobinsonFC Cincinnati
- Mark McKenzieToulouse
- Auston TrustyCeltic
- Joe ScallyMönchengladbach
- Max ArfstenColumbus Crew
- Alex FreemanVillarreal
Midfielders
7 in the squad
- Tyler AdamsBournemouth
- Weston McKennieJuventus
- Malik TillmanLeverkusen
- Brenden AaronsonLeeds United
- Sebastian BerhalterVancouver
- Cristian RoldanSeattle
- Alejandro ZendejasClub América
Forwards
6 in the squad
- Christian PulisicAC Milan
- Tim WeahMarseille
- Folarin BalogunMonaco
- Ricardo PepiPSV
- Gio ReynaMönchengladbach
- Haji WrightCoventry City
The bulk of the squad plays in Europe, with a Major League Soccer presence in goal and at the back. Pochettino has kept faith with the spine that reached the last 16 in Qatar while refreshing the squad with newer faces such as Max Arfsten, Alex Freeman and Sebastian Berhalter, son of former head coach Gregg Berhalter.
The Calls
The notable selection calls
A home World Cup raised the stakes on every decision. These were the calls that drew the most attention.
Gio Reyna
A notable inclusion. After an injury-hit recent run, the Borussia Monchengladbach forward made Pochettino's 26, a vote of confidence in his quality on the ball when fit.
Diego Luna
One of the most discussed omissions. The creative midfielder, who had pushed into the squad through the qualifying cycle, was among those to miss the final cut.
Tim Ream at 38
Handing the armband to a 38-year-old defender was a clear signal that Pochettino values experience and a steadying voice in the dressing room for a home World Cup.
Group D
The group and the fixtures
The United States were drawn into Group D with Paraguay, Australia and Turkey. Paraguay are a tough, organised South American side, Australia bring their familiar resilience, and Turkey, with a talented young generation, may be the toughest test of the three. As co-hosts, the USA play all three group games at home, on the West Coast.
USA vs Paraguay
Fri 12 Jun 2026
USA vs Australia
Fri 19 Jun 2026
USA vs Turkey
Thu 25 Jun 2026
The USA open in prime time at SoFi Stadium against Paraguay on 12 June, the day after the tournament kicks off in Mexico City. For the full picture of all 104 games, see the WorldCuply.com match schedule, and read about the seeds in our guide to the 12 Pot 1 nations, where the USA sit as one of the three host seeds.
The Ceiling
How far can the host nation go?
The USA have never been to a World Cup quarter-final in the modern era, and 2026 brings both opportunity and pressure as co-hosts:
- Home advantage is real. Familiar stadiums, partisan crowds and no long-haul travel give the USA a genuine edge through the group stage and into the knockouts.
- A settled core. Pulisic, McKennie, Adams and Antonee Robinson have played major tournament football together, and that shared experience matters when games tighten.
- The Pochettino factor. A coach with deep Champions League and Premier League pedigree raises the floor; the question is whether he can lift the ceiling in a short tournament.
- A winnable group. Group D is competitive but navigable. Topping it would likely mean a kinder route into the new Round of 32 and beyond.
- The realistic target. Anything less than reaching the knockout rounds would be a disappointment for a host nation; a quarter-final, which would be a modern best, is the stretch goal.
The USA are not among the favourites to lift the trophy, and the markets price the hosts as outsiders. But a home World Cup, a talented core and a respected coach make a deep run a credible ambition rather than a fantasy. The group stage will tell us quickly how realistic it is.
Questions & Answers
Frequently asked questions
Who is the USA's coach for the 2026 World Cup?
Mauricio Pochettino is the head coach of the United States men's national team for the 2026 World Cup. The Argentine, formerly of Tottenham, PSG and Chelsea, took charge in 2024 and named his 26-man squad in late May 2026.
Is Christian Pulisic in the USA's 2026 World Cup squad?
Yes. Christian Pulisic of AC Milan is in the United States squad for the 2026 World Cup and is the team's talisman and biggest attacking threat. As the host nation's most recognisable player, much of the USMNT's hopes rest on his form.
Who is the USA captain for the 2026 World Cup?
Tim Ream, the 38-year-old defender of Charlotte FC, will captain the United States at the 2026 World Cup. He brings experience and leadership to a group that mixes 2022 veterans with first-time World Cup players.
What group are the USA in at the 2026 World Cup?
The United States are in Group D at the 2026 World Cup, alongside Paraguay, Australia and Turkey. As co-hosts, the USA were seeded and play all three group games on home soil.
What are the USA's group fixtures at the 2026 World Cup?
The United States play Paraguay on 12 June 2026 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood near Los Angeles, then Australia on 19 June at Lumen Field in Seattle, and finally Turkey on 25 June back at SoFi Stadium.
Is Gio Reyna in the USA's 2026 World Cup squad?
Yes. Gio Reyna, now at Borussia Monchengladbach, is in Pochettino's 26 for the 2026 World Cup. His inclusion was one of the squad's notable calls, while Diego Luna was among those left out.
How many of the USA squad played at the 2022 World Cup?
Around 13 of the 26 players were part of the squad that reached the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup, with the other 13 set to play in their first World Cup. It is a blend of experience and new faces.
Can the USA win the 2026 World Cup?
The United States are not among the favourites to win the 2026 World Cup, but as hosts with home advantage and a talented group, a realistic target is to advance from the group and make a run in the knockout rounds, with a quarter-final the stretch goal.
Where do the USA play their World Cup 2026 group games?
The United States play two of their three group games at SoFi Stadium in the Los Angeles area, against Paraguay on 12 June and Turkey on 25 June, and one at Lumen Field in Seattle, against Australia on 19 June.
Keep Reading
More 2026 World Cup coverage
The USA are one of 48 nations heading to the 2026 World Cup, and one of three co-hosts. Explore the rest of the WorldCuply.com guide:
Tickets
How to get into USA games and the rest of the 104 matches, including the official channels and pricing.
Read the tickets guide ›England Squad
Tuchel's official 26 for 2026 and the eight big-name omissions, from one of the contenders.
Read the England guide ›Superstars to Watch
The top 12 players going to the 2026 World Cup, including the USA's Christian Pulisic.
View the top 12 ›Match Schedule
All 104 fixtures across 16 host cities, with kickoff times you can filter to your team.
Open the schedule ›Sources
Where this page comes from
This guide was hand-written from the following reporting and reference pages, used to confirm the USA's squad, group and fixtures:
• U.S. Soccer: Meet the team, USMNT roster for the 2026 World Cup
• ESPN: USMNT names 2026 World Cup roster
• FOX Sports: Tim Ream named captain for the USA's World Cup squad
• NPR: A mix of veterans and newcomers will represent the United States at the World Cup
• Wikipedia: 2026 FIFA World Cup Group D
• ESPN: USMNT names 2026 World Cup roster
• FOX Sports: Tim Ream named captain for the USA's World Cup squad
• NPR: A mix of veterans and newcomers will represent the United States at the World Cup
• Wikipedia: 2026 FIFA World Cup Group D
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