Gio Reyna is in and Diego Luna is out. That is the early word on Mauricio Pochettino’s 26-man U.S. World Cup roster, according to media reports Friday, with staff having already informed players of their fate ahead of Tuesday’s public reveal in New York City. The calls, which lean on form, fit and tactical balance, are already stirring arguments in fan circles and MLS locker rooms alike.
In a report published Friday, The Athletic said players had been briefed on selections and that Reyna was included in the 26-man group while Luna was not, citing multiple sources. The outlet also detailed several other roster choices made by the staff ahead of the public announcement and noted that the federation intends to turn the reveal into a fan-focused event.
Roster Reveal Set For Pier 17 In Manhattan
U.S. Soccer says Pochettino will unveil the final squad at The Rooftop at Pier 17 in the South Street Seaport as part of a fan celebration that feeds into a live FOX broadcast, per U.S. Soccer. The federation says fan programming will kick off earlier in the afternoon, with the official announcement scheduled to land before the team’s final warmup matches against Senegal and Germany.
Why Reyna Made The Cut
Reyna’s inclusion, while a talking point for some supporters, follows a late push at club level that included a May goal for Borussia Mönchengladbach and a run of substitute appearances as he closed out the Bundesliga season, according to reporting compiled by The Washington Post. Pochettino has repeatedly indicated that he values what Reyna can offer tactically and has shown he is willing to bet on upside and overall fit, not just sheer volume of recent club minutes.
Why Luna Was Left Off
The Athletic reports that Luna, who has been productive for Real Salt Lake this year while managing a muscle issue, did not make the 26-man list. The story notes that his club totals and minutes were part of the staff’s evaluation. The omission underlines Pochettino’s selection calculus, which recent windows have shown can tilt toward players with a specific tactical profile or established international chemistry rather than pure club form, according to the same coverage.
Deadline, Replacements And What Comes Next
FIFA requires federations to submit final World Cup rosters around the start of June and later publishes those team lists on its site. Once a squad is filed, replacements are tightly restricted and typically permitted only in cases of serious injury or illness within a defined window before a team’s first match, as outlined by FIFA. Any late change would need medical documentation and formal approval before it becomes official.
What To Watch This Week
With the New York reveal just days away, attention now shifts to how Pochettino distributes minutes in the warmup games and whether any lingering fitness concerns force adjustments. Coverage from league and national outlets has framed the coming week as a final audition stage for fringe players trying to lock down roles, according to MLSsoccer. Fans who cannot make it to Pier 17 can tune into the FOX broadcast for the first official look at the roster and then see how it holds up when the United States steps into those last friendlies before the World Cup opener.
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