USMNT World Cup Squad Leaks: Pochettino’s Final Roster Takes Shape
Gio Reyna, Matt Turner, and Brenden Aaronson are among those retained, while Diego Luna and Zavier Gozo miss the cut as the United States men’s national team prepares for the tournament deadline.
Reports from The Athletic indicate that the United States men’s national team has begun notifying players of their status for the upcoming World Cup squad under head coach Mauricio Pochettino. Five players, including Gio Reyna, Matt Turner, Brenden Aaronson, Sebastian Berhalter, and Mark McKenzie, have been informed they are included in the final roster. Conversely, Diego Luna and Zavier Gozo have been told they will not make the cut.
The selections mark a significant retention for Reyna, who has only made four appearances for the national team since the Copa América in the summer of 2024. Despite injury concerns and off-field controversies involving his parents and former coach Gregg Berhalter, Reyna’s positional flexibility is viewed as an asset for a limited tournament squad. His inclusion is joined by that of Sebastian Berhalter, the son of the former USMNT coach, who earned his first senior call-up in 2025 and has become a consistent part of the rotation.
Goalkeeper Matt Turner’s inclusion is also notable, given his recent decline in form. Turner, who was the first-string keeper at the 2022 World Cup, has slipped out of favour since 2024, with New York City FC’s Matt Freese taking the starting role. While Freese is likely to be the official number one, Turner’s presence on the roster suggests the coaching staff is retaining him as cover, despite him making only two starts for the United States since 2024.
The exclusions of Diego Luna and Zavier Gozo represent a departure from recent selection patterns. Luna, a 22-year-old midfielder and winger, had received several call-ups from Pochettino over the past 12 months, making his omission a surprising snub. Gozo, a 19-year-old forward and one of the most promising young prospects in Major League Soccer, was also left off the list despite his extensive representation of the United States at youth levels.
The official roster is scheduled for public release on Tuesday, but the squad is not yet finalised. FIFA rules require final rosters to be submitted by June 1, at which point they are officially locked in. Until that deadline, players who have missed the cut, such as Luna and Gozo, may still be added. After June 1, players can only be replaced due to injury or illness.
The leaked names include players from various clubs, reflecting the international and domestic spread of the squad. Reyna plays for Borussia Mönchengladbach, Aaronson for Leeds, McKenzie for Toulouse, Turner for the New England Revolution, Berhalter for the Vancouver Whitecaps, while Luna and Gozo both play for Real Salt Lake.
