United States announces 26-man World Cup men’s roster

NEW YORK – Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter was just leaving a team meeting when he received the news he had dreamed about – in the same manner most Americans receive their news these days.

“I was just literally in the stairwell and I just saw it come up on my phone,” Berhalter said. “I was like, ‘There’s no way.’ I was in the stands watching the games in Qatar (in 2022). People would have thought you were crazy if you said that this kid could be on the team four years later.”

The son of former United States men’s national team coach Gregg Berhalter will make his senior national team debut in an exhibition match against Senegal on May 31 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and perhaps his World Cup debut against Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles.

Like Berhalter, the thrill of making the U.S. men’s soccer team for the FIFA World Cup was evident in the stories players told at the roster reveal on Tuesday at The Rooftop at Pier 17 in New York.  

Veteran defender Tim Ream found out while leaving the training ground for Charlotte FC with a box of bobbleheads for his kids. Club América (Liga MX, Mexico) forward Alejandro Zendejas celebrated with his parents, brother, sister and girlfriend, with the whole group crying in joy.

As for those who did not make it, coach Mauricio Pochettino was not interested in discussing them. 

“We cannot talk about the players that are not in the roster because it is very disrespectful to the players that made the roster,” said Pochettino, who faced criticism for informing those who did not make the roster via email rather than by phone. “I’m going to be focused on the players that are here because I do not want to disclose anything because it is not my job, and I say this to have respect about that.”

Thousands of fans gathered below the Brooklyn Bridge to celebrate and welcome the 26-man squad that will defend the colors of the U.S. as the tournament returns to North American soil for the first time since 1994, when the U.S. was knocked out in the round of 16.

Among the eager fans who anticipated the announcement was Elliott Montalvan, a representative of the U.S. national team’s supporter group Barra 76. Montalvan said playing the World Cup on home soil creates a big opportunity for the U.S. to advance deep into the tournament despite recent negative results in friendly matches against Belgium and Portugal in March.

“These guys have been working and playing together for a while now,” Montalvan said. “Even though the friendlies haven’t looked so promising, we are hoping to see that now that they know that this is coming. We need to put the best performance on the field.”

One of the players who will be making his World Cup debut is striker Ricardo Pepi, who plays for the Dutch club Philips Sport Vereniging, but was cut from the Qatar 2022 roster.

“Missing out on the World Cup, there are things you have to work on of course,” he said. “It was a difficult moment, but at the end of the day I used that as fuel and I feel like playing abroad and playing in Europe prepared me for this moment.” 

For fans such as Montalvan, the inclusion of Pepi represents a significant boost to the team. 

“It is a second chance at trump for him. Hopefully he can do what he needs to do,” Montalvan said. “He is a fan favorite, everybody likes him and I think that he could be a vital player on our squadron.”

Stepping in as team captain for the tournament is AC Milan striker Christian Pulisic. Despite the general opinion that he is one of the USMNT’s best players, a five-month scoreless drought has raised concerns among fans.

“If he cannot motivate himself to play in the World Cup, no matter how bad he has been from Milan, then he shouldn’t be the face of this U.S. team,” U.S. soccer fan Edward Novodrosky said. 

“You are the captain of this U.S. team. You are leading this U.S. team into a World Cup. You are the face of soccer in this country. This whole country is going to be getting around one person for this team: you. He has to sell. It’s on him.”

Pulisic acknowledged the pressure in a news conference after the roster was announced, but refused to dive deeper into his mind set.

“There’s pressure. It’s a World Cup,” he said. “I understand that’s what people have to do. They have to find ways to put pressure on the players and I get it.

“I’m very grateful to be in this position. That’s exactly what I want. I have the chance to help my country to perform at a World Cup and I’m lucky.”

Pulisic said the team feels more confident under Pochettino’s leadership.

“He just brings a lot of experience,” Pulisic said. “He has coached a lot of top clubs around the world and going into a tournament like this, he will be relaxed and give us the right game plan, get us motivated and ready to compete. I think that’s what he is best at and we are going to be ready.”

Aside from injured players,  there were some surprising cuts from the final roster such as midfielders Diego Luna and Tanner Tessman. Pochettino chose an unusual roster balance by bringing only four true central/defensive midfielders (Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Cristian Roldan, Berhalter) while carrying 10 defenders.

“It’s important to see the roster trying to provide the right balance, and of course, I think it’s important to have enough bodies in our center back (position),” Pochettino said. “That is why we have five (center backs). We decided to include the number of five because we wanted to be sure we didn’t have any risks.

“This roster provides us the possibility to play with a back-four, back-three, play with one holding midfielder or play with no holding midfielder, maybe having a more offensive player in front of the back-three.”

Berhalter said that under Pochettino, he has developed a new playing identity.

“For me it’s about bringing that passion and intensity,” Berhalter said. “I think he’s emphasized that is something that he wants and my quality on the ball. Bringing those attributes out and just being myself – he has let me do that.”

While Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards made the squad, his appearance in the tournament is in doubt following two torn ligaments in his left ankle. His availability remains uncertain before the June 1 FIFA deadline to submit the final rosters.

Here’s a look at the full U.S. World Cup Roster:

Goalkeepers:
Chris Brady
Matt Freese
Matt Turner

Defenders:
Max Arfsten
Sergiño Dest
Alex Freeman
Mark Mckenzie
Tim Ream
Chris Richards
Antonee Robinson
Miles Robinson
Joe Scally
Auston Trusty

Midfielders:
Tyler Adams
Sebastian Berhalter
Weston McKennie
Cristian Roldan

Wingers:
Brenden Aaronson
Christian Pulisic
Gio Reyna
Malik Tillman
Tim Weah
Alejandro Zendejas

Strikers:
Folarin Balogun
Ricardo Pepi
Haji Wright

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