Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Chris Richards were among U.S. men’s national team mainstays called up for next week’s FIFA World Cup 2026 preparation matches against Belgium (March 28) and Portugal (March 31) in Atlanta.
Minor injuries will prevent 2022 veterans Tyler Adams, Sergiño Dest and Haji Wright — plus young attacker Diego Luna — from participating this month. But there was room for Gio Reyna in USA coach Mauricio Pochettino‘s 27-player squad before the Americans’ final World Cup roster on May 26. The U.S. ended 2025 on a three-game winning streak and unbeaten in five matches, all against teams that have qualified for the World Cup.
“We are playing top-level teams,” Pochettino said of this month’s opponents, both of which are ranked in FIFA’s Top 10. “I think it’s important to perform again.”
USA Roster for March Friendlies
Goalkeepers: Chris Brady, Chicago Fire; Matt Freese, NYCFC; Roman Celentano, FC Cincinnati; Matt Turner, New England
Defenders: Max Arfsten, Columbus Crew; Alex Freeman, Villarreal (Spain); Mark McKenzie (FC Toulouse (France); Tim Ream, Charlotte; Chris Richards, Crystal Palace (England); Antonee Robinson, Fulham (England); Miles Robinson, FC Cincinnati; Joe Scally, Borussia Mönchengladbach (Gemany); Auston Trusty, Celtic (Scotland)
Midfielders: Sebastian Berhalter, Vancouver Whitecaps (Canada); Johnny Cardoso, Atlético Madrid (Spain); Weston McKennie, Juventus (Italy); Aidan Morris, Middlesbrough (England); Cristian Roldan, Seattle Sounders; Gio Reyna, Borussia Mönchengladbach (Germany); Tanner Tessmann; Lyon (France); Malik Tillman, Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)
Forwards: Brenden Aaronson, Leeds (England); Patrick Agyemang, Derby County (England); Folarin Balogun, AS Monaco (France); Ricardo Pepi, PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands); Christian Pulisic, AC Milan (Italy); Tim Weah, Marseille (France)
Reyna Returns
Pulisic, McKennie and Richards all log heavy minutes with their European clubs. But Reyna — who, as a teenager, appeared in two games off the bench at the last World Cup in Qatar — has played just 26 minutes for German Bundesliga team Borussia Mönchengladbach since the start of this calendar year.
– ‘Stars and ’Stripes’: USA World Cup Jerseys Revealed!
The 23-year-old has been on the field sparingly over the three-plus seasons because of a series of lower body ailments. But Reyna — the son of two-time U.S. World Cup captain Claudio Reyna — has consistently performed well with the USMNT regardless of his situation at club level. At the Americans’ most recent camp, last November, Reyna scored minutes into an eventual 2-1 win over Paraguay. The U.S. opens its 2026 World Cup schedule against the Paraguayans on June 12 in Los Angeles.
Gio Reyna has the chance to impress at the March friendlies. (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images)
“Gio was fantastic in November with us,” Pochettino told reporters during a video conference shortly after the March roster was released. “I think we really know that it’s a very talented and very special player.
“And I think to give the possibility, even if [he’s] not enjoying an excessive amount of in his membership, it may be very helpful for us,” the Argentine continued. “That’s our mindset and the way in which that we made the choice to deliver Gio into this camp.”
USA gamers will report back to Georgia’s capital on Sunday, after their membership video games in MLS and abroad this weekend.
Why No Noahkai?
Hawaii-born middle again Noahkai Banks, 19, was not included regardless of showing in 21 Bundesliga matches with Augsburg in 2025-26. Banks, a twin citizen who can be eligible to signify four-time World Cup champion Germany, has not but dedicated to both nation. He represented the U.S. on the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
“Noahkai is a younger child,” stated Pochettino, who has remained involved with Banks since bringing him into the USMNT fold final September. “He is in a troublesome scenario, and I hope for USA that the choice might be for our aspect.”
“The entire [U.S. Soccer] Federation is supporting him,” the coach continued, including that he’ll give Banks time to contemplate his worldwide future. Below FIFA guidelines, setting foot on the sector for the U.S. within the World Cup would tie him to the American program for the remainder of his profession.
“It isn’t about [trying] to persuade. It is about exhibiting that we actually care about him.”
The absence of Banks and Dest lacking probably opened the door for defenders Joe Scally and Auston Trusty to rejoin the USA for its final camp earlier than the World Cup workforce assembles forward of the 48-team match.
For wholesome gamers who weren’t included this month, time seems to be working out. That checklist contains keepers Jonathan Klinsmann and Patrick Schulte, Holstein Kiel fullback John Tolkin, Membership America winger Alex Zendejas, Atalanta midfielder Yunus Musah and Toronto FC ahead Josh Sargent. Musah and Sargent each began the USA’s World Cup opener 4 years in the past.
Nonetheless, Pochettino insisted that roster spots this summer season stay up for grabs.
“It is nonetheless open. It isn’t the ultimate roster,” he stated. “After this camp, with accidents, the mixture and dynamic of the group can change.”
2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch
The World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Unfold throughout three nations, the match will culminate with the ultimate on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 match matches will air stay throughout FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with each match streaming stay and on-demand inside each the FOX One and the FOX Sports activities apps. A document 40 matches, greater than one-third of the match, will air in prime time throughout FOX (21) and FS1 (19).
What’s the USA’s Schedule for the 2026 World Cup?
- June 12: United States vs. Paraguay — Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California (9 p.m. ET)
- June 19: United States vs. Australia — Seattle Stadium (3 p.m. ET)
- June 25: United States vs. UEFA Playoff C (Slovakia, Kosovo, Türkiye, Romania) — Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California (10 p.m. ET)
