USA 2026 World Cup Squad: Pochettino’s 26-Player Roster Confirmed

Mauricio Pochettino has finalized the United States’ 26-player roster for the home tournament, marking his first World Cup campaign as head coach with a blend of European-based stars and MLS talent. The squad features captain Christian Pulisic and midfield engine Weston McKennie as the core leadership group tasked with navigating the expanded 48-team format and delivering results on American soil.

Goalkeepers Chris Brady, Matt Freese, and Matt Turner provide the last line of defense, while the defensive unit includes Max Arfsten, Sergino Dest, Alex Freeman, Mark McKenzie, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Miles Robinson, Joe Scally, and Auston Trusty. Midfield options comprise Tyler Adams, Sebastian Berhalter, Weston McKennie, Cristian Roldan, Brenden Aaronson, Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Malik Tillman, Tim Weah, and Alejandro Zendejas. Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, and Haji Wright lead the attacking line as the recognized forwards in Pochettino’s selection, offering varied tactical profiles from Balogun’s hold-up play to Pepi’s movement.

Co-host status guarantees the USA automatic qualification and placement in Group D alongside Paraguay, Australia, and Turkiye. Pochettino’s tactical approach emphasizes depth across the backline and multiple attacking options to manage the demanding schedule of the first 48-team World Cup in history, where the hosts aim to advance beyond the group stage and into the knockout rounds.

Why Kenya Fans Should Follow the USA Team in 2026

Host-nation status creates a unique pressure environment for the American squad, with Pulisic, McKennie, and Reyna competing on home soil in front of expectant crowds across American cities. Kenya supporters can follow this high-stakes narrative as the USA attempts to leverage familiar conditions against Paraguay, Australia, and Turkiye in Group D, representing one of the tournament’s most compelling storylines.

European league experience among the American roster provides tactical familiarity for Kenyan audiences accustomed to watching Serie A, Ligue 1, and the Premier League. Pulisic plies his trade at AC Milan, McKennie features in Italian football, and Balogun represents Monaco in France, offering playing styles that align with modern tactical trends accessible to East African analysis. Pochettino’s high-pressing philosophy further connects to contemporary football discussions among Kenyan tactical observers.

Forty-eight teams compete across 104 matches in the expanded tournament format, ensuring the USA plays at least three group stage fixtures with potential progression to the Round of 32 if results against Paraguay, Australia, and Turkiye prove favorable. Kenya fans gain multiple opportunities to watch competitive World Cup football during convenient evening and late-night hours in East Africa Time by consulting the full World Cup 2026 schedule in Kenya Time.

USA Group D Fixtures and Kenya Time Viewing Guide

Paraguay awaits the USA in the Group D opener, followed by matches against Australia and Turkiye to complete the round-robin phase. Kenya supporters can track the complete Group D standings and fixtures on Pulser to monitor the host nation’s progression through the tournament and verify qualification scenarios for the knockout stage.

East Africa Time (EAT, UTC+3) conversions for all USA matches appear on Pulser’s schedule pages, eliminating the need for Kenyan viewers to calculate time differences from American zones. The schedule accounts for Kenya’s lack of daylight saving time to ensure accuracy throughout the tournament duration, providing reliable kickoff information for the duration of the competition.

Pulser’s FIFA World Cup hub serves as the central navigation point for squad updates, match previews, and direct links to individual USA match pages. Exact kickoff times for specific fixtures will be confirmed and updated on the full schedule page as the tournament approaches, ensuring Kenya fans have immediate access to viewing information.

USA’s full match information

World Cup 2026 Group D: Teams, Fixtures & Kenya Time
2026 FIFA Prediction: USA vs Paraguay
2026 FIFA Prediction: USA vs Australia
2026 FIFA Prediction: Turkey vs USA

FAQ

Who is the head coach of the USA national team for the 2026 World Cup?

Mauricio Pochettino is the head coach of the USA national team and has selected the 26-player roster for the 2026 tournament.

Which group is the USA in for the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

The USA is placed in Group D alongside Paraguay, Australia, and Turkiye. You can view the complete Group D schedule and table on the Pulser Group D page.

What time will USA World Cup matches be shown in Kenya?

Exact kickoff times will be finalized closer to the tournament dates. Check the Pulser full World Cup 2026 schedule page for all USA fixtures converted to Kenya Time (EAT, UTC+3).

Reference

1. USA | FIFA World Cup 2026

• The 2026 World Cup will expand to 48 teams, making the Round of 16 the second knockout stage after a new Round of 32
• France and Spain top the odds board as strong favourites to advance past the group phase and first knockout round
• All three host nations—USA, Mexico and Canada—are priced favourably to reach the last 16
• Bookmakers give shorter odds to European and South American powers compared to African and Asian sides

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will introduce a new format with 48 nations competing. This means the Round of 16 will now serve as the second phase of the knockout rounds, following a newly created Round of 32.

France lead the betting at -450. A $10 stake would return $12.22. The 2018 champions have reached the final in two of the last three tournaments. They last failed to progress from the group stage in 2010.

Spain follow closely behind at -390. La Roja won the trophy in 2010 but suffered early exits in recent editions. They fell at the Round of 16 in both 2018 and 2022, and crashed out in the group phase in 2014.

Other major football nations also feature prominently in the markets. England stand at -360, while Germany are priced at -280. Brazil and Portugal both sit at -270, with Belgium at -260. World Cup holders Argentina are listed at -200.

The three host countries receive strong backing from the bookmakers. Mexico are priced at -155, the USA at -130, and Canada at +100. El Tri have a difficult history at this stage, having lost in the Round of 16 in seven consecutive tournaments between 1994 and 2018. They failed to qualify for the knockouts entirely in 2022.

The USA reached the Round of 16 in 2022 and also in 2010 and 2014, though they missed the 2018 finals in Russia. Canada face the biggest challenge, having never won or drawn a World Cup match in their history.

Switzerland (-165), the Netherlands (-145) and Colombia (-120) appear further down the list, while nations such as Morocco (+125), Croatia (+130) and Japan (+180) face longer odds to reach the last 16.

• Malik Tillman of Bayer Leverkusen joins the USA’s 26-man World Cup roster
• The forward moved from PSV Eindhoven to Leverkusen for €35m in July 2025
• Borussia Mönchengladbach stars Giovanni Reyna and Joe Scally also earn call-ups
• Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo selects squad featuring numerous Bundesliga players
• Other German-based internationals include Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie

Malik Tillman of Bayer Leverkusen has secured his place in the United States’ 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup. The attacker, who was born in Nuremberg, completed a €35m transfer from PSV Eindhoven to the Rhineland club in July 2025. He faced a tough debut campaign as he filled the gap left by Florian Wirtz’s departure, scoring eight goals in 42 matches across all competitions.

Tillman is joined by two club colleagues from Borussia Mönchengladbach. Giovanni Reyna moved to the Foals from Borussia Dortmund in August 2025 for €7m. The midfielder made 19 Bundesliga appearances this season, recording one goal and one assist. Joe Scally has been with Gladbach since 2019. The full-back produced two goals and three assists in 32 league outings during the current campaign.

Head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, formerly in charge of TSG Hoffenheim and VfB Stuttgart, finalised the roster. The squad also features several other former Bundesliga stars, including Chris Richards, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Ricardo Pepi, Christian Pulisic, Brenden Aaronson and Haji Wright.