NEW YORK (AP) — Midfielders Gio Reyna and Sebastian Berhalter have been included in U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino’s 26th squad. world cup He was included on Tuesday along with winger Alejandro Zendejas, while midfielders Diego Luna and Tanner Tessman were left out.
Defender Sergiño Dest, midfielder Tyler Adams and forward Haji Wright, who missed the March friendly due to injury, have been added. Zendejas suffered a knee injury last fall and was removed from the March roster.
Players were announced in order of jersey number at a made-for-TV event on the rooftop of Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background.
“It was very painful to make the decision,” Pochettino said. “I can’t talk about players who didn’t make the roster.”
Reyna is the son of former American army captain Claudio Reyna. Almost got sent home At the 2022 World Cup, then-coach Gregg Berhalter criticized him for his lack of hustle. He has only started 4 games this season. Borussia Mönchengladbach representative — Has not played since December 19th. he Manager Pochettino considers him a “special player”.
Sebastian Berhalter (25), the son of a former coach, He made his national team debut in June last year. He became the best American corner kick taker.
Players left out of the March squad included goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, Tessmann and fellow midfielder Aidan Morris. Two players have been sidelined due to recent injuries: Midfielder Johnny Cardoso (right ankle surgery) and forward Patrick Agyeman (Right Achilles tendon rupture). defender cameron carter vickers He is currently recovering from a torn Achilles tendon in October.
Luna played in 17 of 18 international games last year before missing the March game due to a knee injury.
Who will be back from 2022?
Half the squad is back from the last World Cup: goalkeeper Matt Turner; Dest and fellow defenders Tim Ream, Anthony Robinson and Joe Scully. Adams and fellow midfielders Weston McKennie, Reyna and Cristian Roldan. And the forwards are Brenden Aaronson, Christian Pulisic, Tim Ware, and right field.
defender chris richards and Miles Robinson He was selected after the U.S. national team missed the 2022 tournament due to injury. Lost to the Netherlands Richards missed the event as he played against Crystal Palace in the Europa Conference League final on Wednesday. health concerns after Torn two ligaments in left ankle May 17th.
Pochettino said Richards’ status would not be known until he arrives in the United States for training.
This time, Ricardo Pepi was selected from among the players who were shortlisted four years ago.
Players who left in 2022 included goaltenders Ethan Horvath and Shawn Johnson. Carter Vickers and fellow defenders Aaron Long, Shaq Moore, DeAndre Yedlin and Walker Zimmerman. midfielders Kellyn Acosta, Luca de la Torre and Yunus Moussa; and forwards Jesus Ferreira, Jordan Morris, and Josh Sargent.
This year’s average age was 26 years and 332 days at the time of the U.S. Opening Day, up from 25 years ago four years ago to 216 years old, making it the fifth-youngest U.S. World Cup player and older than in 1930, 1990 and 1994.
Where are the players from?
Only eight players from Major League Soccer were selected, the fewest since four in 2010, and no offensive players from MLS were selected.
Five players are based in England, three each in Germany’s Bundesliga and France’s Ligue 1, two each in Italy’s Serie A and Dutch Eredivisie, and one each in Mexico, Scotland and Spain.
Pulisic, America’s top player, has finished AC Milan’s season without scoring in 19 games since December 28, and has not scored in eight games in America since November 2024.
Pochettino’s three strikers completed a strong club season, scoring 56 points with Folarin Balogun and Pepi each scoring 19 and Wright 18.
For the first time since 1990, there is no American goaltender from a European club.
The United States opens against Paraguay in Inglewood, Calif., on June 12, faces Australia in Seattle a week later, and concludes Group D with a game against Turkey on June 26 in Inglewood. The top two teams in each of the 12 groups, along with the eight third-placed countries, will advance to a new round of 32 in the expanded 48-nation tournament.
Riem could become the oldest American to play in a World Cup when the U.S. plays in the opening game, at 38 years and 250 days old, older than defender Fernando Clavijo when the U.S. lost to Brazil in the Round of 16 in 1994.
Defenseman Alex Freeman, the son of former Super Bowl champion Antonio Freeman, is the youngest player at 21 years old.
No. 3 goalkeeper Chris Brady will be the first player to join the U.S. World Cup squad without international experience since reserve goalkeeper Jurgen Sommer in 1994.
Name list:
Goaltenders: Chris Brady (Chicago), Matt Freeze (New York City), Matt Turner (New England)
Defenders: Max Alfsten (Columbus), Serginho Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Anthony Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (Cincinnati), Joe Scully (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Auston Trusty (Celtic)
Midfielders: Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Gio Reyna (Borussia Monchengladbach), Christian Roldan (Seattle), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen)
Forwards: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds), Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Tim Weah (Marseille), Hadji Wright (Coventry), Alejandro Zendejas (USA)
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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
