It’s getting real, folks. The World Cup is but two weeks away. Mauricio Pochettino has issued his final, 26-man U.S. Men’s National Team roster. Here’s what it tells us:

Other than Tanner Tessman staying home, no roster surprises — only alignment questions and a couple puzzlers. It seems El Mister is committed to a back three of Tim Ream, Chris Richards and Alex Freeman, but he hedged his bets by tapping a total of 10 defenders, six centerbacks and four wing backs. That D-corps (see the entire roster below) allows him the flexibility to play four in the back, should tactics shift.

Tessman, a defensive midfielder who plays for Lyon, might not be fit (muscle strain); his club indicated on May 8 he wouldn’t play any more of the French Ligue 1 season. If he is healthy, I emphatically DO NOT understand Pochettino’s motivations here. I thought TT provided the best-possible cover and partner for oft-injured, talismanic defensive midfielder Tyler Adams. What’s more, Tessman is another, highly technical, distributive option at centerback should 38-year-old Ream prove too immobile and vulnerable.

At World Cup 2022 and in their best moments since, this side is most dangerous and best balanced with Sergino Dest and Antonee Robinson as attacking wingbacks who actively push into midfield and participate in the build-up. Both remain more than capable galavanting down sidelines, into the attacking third. So is left-side backup Max Arfsten (not so high on right-sider Joe Scally). A three-centerback alignment frees these talented wingbacks to attack — one at a time, on either flank, whereupon the other tucks in beside Adams to hold the fort.

One imagines Adams and Weston McKennie will play atop the back three, the former being more free to venture box to box. The Texan is versatile but mainly goes forward for Juventus. That makes for a dynamic pairing. But is it stout enough? Three centerbacks are meant to provide this. We’ll see.

Malik Tillman will likely to start in the withdrawn-attacker role, atop the midfield triangle. Claudio Reyna’s the understudy. All of a sudden, this squad shows great depth here: Brenden Aronson and Alex Zendejas were also named to the squad. They’re capable, but none of these four, it seems to me, could possible drop back and play a more defensive midfield role. Less flexibility here.

A 3-5-2 means just two striking slots and it’s hard to see how Flo Balogun and Christian Pulisic don’t fill them. Tim Weah’s the odd man out, or first off the bench. He and Pulisic have traditionally started as wingers on either side of Balogun, but to no great effect in 2026. I see Pulisic dropping in to play-make with Tillman.

This is not a bad side. It’s an accomplished side in terms of club-places. But what had been a strength — the back half of midfield: Adams, McKennie, Yunus Musah, Tessman — now feels thin. MLS replacements like Christian Roldan and Seb Berhalter typically cannot cope with the speed of play at this level, especially in the middle of the park (see Kellyn Acosta in Qatar). Neither is a true ball-winner. As always, we’re hyper reliant on a healthy Adams.

Two friendlies remain before the June 13 opener vs. Paraguay: Senegal on May 31, and Germany on June 6. Buckle up. The moment of truth is nearly upon us.

 

Goalkeepers

• Chris Brady (Chicago Fire)
• Matt Freese (New York City FC)
• Matt Turner (New England Revolution)

Defenders

• Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew)
• Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven)
• Alex Freeman (Villarreal)
• Mark McKenzie (Toulouse)
• Tim Ream (Charlotte FC)
• Chris Richards (Crystal Palace)
• Antonee Robinson (Fulham)
• Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati)
• Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
• Auston Trusty (Celtic)

Defensive/Central Midfielders

• Tyler Adams (Bournemouth)
• Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps)
• Weston McKennie (Juventus)
• Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders)

Attacking Midfielders/Wingers

• Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United)
• Christian Pulisic (AC Milan)
• Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
• Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen)
• Tim Weah (Marseille)
• Alejandro Zendejas (Club América)

Strikers

• Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco)
• Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven)
• Haji Wright (Coventry City)