Please use this thread for all discussions about the USA team at the 2026 World Cup. This should include pre-World Cup discussions, game threads for USA matches, etc.
2026 World Cup - USA team thread
- Thread starter Tom McAndrew
- Start date
I recommend the 5 part series that HBO is running about the lead up for the USMNT. First episode came out last week and was solid. Episode 2 is tomorrow.
nypost.com
How to watch ‘U.S. Against the World’ docuseries ahead of 2026 World Cup
HBO is giving viewers an inside look at the team slated to wear the red, white and blue next month.
nypost.com
Hitting the point where I cringe every day one of our guys is playing due to potential for injuries knocking them out. Johnny Cardoso is already out (who knows if he would have made the 26 man squad based on past rosters, but he's playing so well at a top club that it would have been tough to leave him off)...and this weekend, both Chris Richards and Brenden Aaronson came up injured. Sounds like there is optimism around Richards' ankle injury (his coach is downplaying it), but not sure yet where things are at with Aaronson's knee.
The 26 man squad will be announced live on Fox next Tuesday (5/26) at 3pm. Biggest thing I'm watching is if Noahkai Banks makes his decision on where his national team future lands...if he picks us, I'd think he's a lock for the squad.
Is anyone living near a host city thinking about renting out their house?
Iran heads to World Cup training camp with no US visas issued
Iran’s national football team is flying to Turkey amid fears over visa approvals from the United States, with limited preparation and no top-tier friendly matches scheduled.
www.euronews.com
I believe FIFA said they were all good, but will they actually get visas? Hard to believe that since the US is led by the FIFA peace price winner that they would have any issues. Sucks we're hosting the cup and there is generally no buzz about it...at least nothing really positive.
From what they're saying, the hotel demand isn't even that high...don't see this being like The Masters where someone wants to come and rent your house for a week. It's fans coming in for a game, then moving around to another city, or heading home.
I'm surprised at how many of my big soccer fan friends aren't going to any games, or maybe considering going to one game. FIFA has jacked up prices so high that it's driven many away (same for me with the Olympics...I came up in the lottery and when I saw the ticket prices for LA28, I decided I'll stay in Jersey and watch on TV). I am going to one game at the Linc, but it would have been multiple if the greed wasn't so bad with ticket prices (yes, I could pay it, but it's the principal of the greed that I'm not going to feed into).
Closest venues to me were Miami or Atlanta....and I'm not driving 5 hours to pay those prices either. They are finally starting to drop now though due to the low demand...and I imagine that will continue on as our country isn't exactly welcoming at this point in time.
Thanks for linking the article. What a mess from here to there and back again. Everybody owns a piece of this travesty including the IRGC.Iran heads to World Cup training camp with no US visas issued
Iran’s national football team is flying to Turkey amid fears over visa approvals from the United States, with limited preparation and no top-tier friendly matches scheduled.
I believe FIFA said they were all good, but will they actually get visas? Hard to believe that since the US is led by the FIFA peace price winner that they would have any issues. Sucks we're hosting the cup and there is generally no buzz about it...at least nothing really positive.
Totally agree as well, the buzz has been somewhat compromised so far. High prices, mistrust, the war, ICE, visas, the impact on other countries from the restricted flow of commerce in the Strait, etc etc. A total mess all around. Unfortunate.
Last edited:
We decided against going over pricing as well. We know someone who was selected and had to purchase multiple games at an astounding price. It would cost us somewhere near $ 10,000 for four of us to fly cross country to attend the Paraguay game. It was not a hard decision to say no.
How Neymar is in over Pedro is a joke to me. I get Neymar has his history, but Pedro has had a great year in a real league.
USMNT's Chris Richards tears ankle ligaments ahead of World Cup
USMNT defender Chris Richards has suffered two torn ligaments in his ankle, however a source told ESPN that he is expected to be fit for the World Cup that kicks off in three weeks.
www.espn.com
USMNT 2026 World Cup big board 7.0: Who will make Pochettino's squad?
Mauricio Pochettino will announce his USMNT World Cup squad Tuesday. Who will be on it? Jeff Carlisle makes his predictions in big board 7.0.
www.espn.com
Luna is the only player who would have shown up for a World Cup street fight. This has the makings of a very weird and disappointing squad.
We shall see. Faith in Pooch but not feeling it.
USMNT World Cup full roster: Alejandro Zendejas is in, Tanner Tessmann misses out
Gio Reyna and Sebastian Berhalter are among the inclusions on Mauricio Pochettino’s full 26-man roster for this summer, while Diego Luna has missed out
www.theguardian.com
Just finished the Fox “Summer of 94” documentary that aired today. Highly recommend it. So many great memories.
Shakira might be able to afford to go to some games now that Spain will pay her $70 MM plus interest from her tax case
maybe
maybe
Even Pooch doesn’t want to upset the pampered kids……USMNT World Cup full roster: Alejandro Zendejas is in, Tanner Tessmann misses out
Gio Reyna and Sebastian Berhalter are among the inclusions on Mauricio Pochettino’s full 26-man roster for this summer, while Diego Luna has missed out
Trump's giving them two more weeks after the two more weeks after the two more weeks after the two more weeks after the two more weeks .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................after the two more weeks ........................................................................................................................... then he'll give them two more weeks...............................................................................................
USMNT's final World Cup roster has Pochettino taking risks
USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino stayed true to himself, but his risks in the midfield could have a domino effect at the World Cup.
www.espn.com
USA's 2026 World Cup roster reveal recap: Pulisic, Reyna headline 26-man squad
Enjoy all that happened from New York City as we found out USMNT players made Mauricio Pochettino's 26-man list for the 2026 World Cup.
www.espn.com
Pochettino: 'Amazing' Reyna deserves USMNT World Cup roster spot
USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino said that he included midfielder Gio Reyna on his World Cup roster because of the player's "amazing talent."
www.espn.com
He was on the bench today for Palace in their Conference League cup final. That tells me he will be good enough by the time the World Cup starts, and the fact that he did not start like he usually does only preserves his ankle even more for the USMNT. So, win-win. The Brits have a bit of a different way of reporting physiological injuries than we do here in the US, so that kind of scared a bunch of us for a while since "torn ligaments" here is usually reserved for describing more serious injuries than sprains (which are partial tears).
USMNT's Chris Richards tears ankle ligaments ahead of World Cup
USMNT defender Chris Richards has suffered two torn ligaments in his ankle, however a source told ESPN that he is expected to be fit for the World Cup that kicks off in three weeks.
The entire World Cup is on either FOX or FS1. All of the US games are slated for FOX (and if we ended up in a knockout stage game that was initially slated for FS1, they'd likely move that one to FOX).
We’re getting Reamed:
www.espn.com
Tim Ream named USMNT captain; Chris Richards a World Cup doubt
U.S. men's national team manager Mauricio Pochettino has named defender Tim Ream as captain for the USMNT during the 2026 World Cup.
www.espn.com
but we like it.We’re getting Reamed:
Tim Ream named USMNT captain; Chris Richards a World Cup doubt
U.S. men's national team manager Mauricio Pochettino has named defender Tim Ream as captain for the USMNT during the 2026 World Cup.
Nice showing today (tough to take much from the second half, though even that was positive). Really clicked with the attack and high press in the first half.
My predicted 11 heading into Paraguay would be (while being optimistic that Richards is good)…
Freese
Freeman-Richards-Ream
Dest-Adams-McKinnie-A Robinson
Tillman-Pulisic
Balogun
No Richards, and McKenzie gets the nod.
Tillman is a bit of a guess, as Aaronson or Reyna could also be the pick.
My predicted 11 heading into Paraguay would be (while being optimistic that Richards is good)…
Freese
Freeman-Richards-Ream
Dest-Adams-McKinnie-A Robinson
Tillman-Pulisic
Balogun
No Richards, and McKenzie gets the nod.
Tillman is a bit of a guess, as Aaronson or Reyna could also be the pick.