The USMNT officially unveiled its roster for the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday, with F Christian Pulisic, MFs Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie highlighting the host nation’s 26-man squad for this summer. The players were informed via email on Friday, and the entire roster was revealed by The Athletic and The Guardian on Saturday. But the players still gathered at Pier 17 in Manhattan with the Brooklyn Bridge as their backdrop for what was the “grand unveiling” in a “televised, patriotic celebration and sendoff for one of the tournament’s three cohosts.” Fans in USMNT kits “bore the heat, as temperatures reached 80 degrees” in N.Y. by Tuesday afternoon. The crowd was expected to be at capacity, but it “felt like scarce turnout with 30 minutes to go until players were expected to take the stage.” The players were “donning dark gray suits with the U.S. Soccer crest emblazoned over the heart” and were introduced one at a time after that (THE ATHLETIC, 5/26).
Among the notable omissions from the roster was Real Salt Lake MF Diego Luna, who had “emerged as a national team regular” under coach Mauricio Pochettino and had been “featured in several of the USMNT’s pre-tournament marketing campaigns.” A possible starter at defensive midfielder, Tanner Tessmann was also “left off the roster entirely” (N.Y. POST, 5/26).
