‘He is a Particular Participant:’ Gio Reyna Makes Stunning Return to U.S. Males’s Workforce

Gio Reyna is back with the U.S. men’s national team for the first time since March.

The 22-year-old midfielder and 2022 World Cup veteran has made just one 21-minute cameo for his country since Mauricio Pochettino, the former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain manager, took over as USMNT coach more than a year ago. Reyna has also played sparingly for new club Borussia Mönchengladbach since leaving German Bundesliga rival Borussia Dortmund in August.

However, usual starting attackers Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah are unavailable this month because of injury. Fellow forward Malik Tillman just returned to action after missing three-plus weeks with a hamstring strain he sustained while on U.S. duty last month.

That has given Reyna, who helped the U.S. win a trio of Concacaf Nations League titles between 2021-24, the chance to get on Pochettino’s final roster of the year.

“He’s a special player,” Pochettino said of Reyna during a video conference with reporters on Thursday, shortly after announcing his squad ahead of this month’s 2026 World Cup tuneups versus two South American powers: Paraguay on Nov. 15 in Chester, Pennsylvania, and Uruguay on Nov. 18 in Tampa.

“We already know the potential of Gio,  and the talent. He has enormous, enormous talent,” Pochettino added. “It’s true that is not playing too much, but I think it’s a good opportunity in November, because until March we are not going to be together again and [there are] not too many prospects to see him.”

Ahead Ricardo Pepi returns for the primary time since November 2024. The PSV striker scored in every of his first three appearances for Pochettino however underwent knee surgical procedure in February after getting harm in a UEFA Champions League win over Liverpool. 

Although he has but to win again his beginning job for the Dutch champs, he’s averaging a aim each 81 minutes within the Eredivisie and Champions League. On Tuesday, he helped PSV salvage a degree with a late tally off the bench in opposition to Olympiacos. It was Pepi’s third result-changing aim in second-half stoppage time within the Champions League, equaling Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Agüero for probably the most within the competitors’s historical past. 

“Pepi just isn’t taking part in an excessive amount of,” Pochettino acknowledged. “With Ricardo, [the idea] is to offer an enormous increase within the motivation for him to maintain hold pushing, hold bettering,” Pochettino stated. “The [players] must know that they’re within the race for the competitors and for a spot within the roster within the World Cup.”

Not solely has fellow striker Folarin Balogun, been taking part in, he is additionally been in wonderful type in Europe’s prime membership match, having scored Monaco’s Champions League winner over Bodo/Glimt earlier this week.

Pochettino Talks Gamers Not in Camp

Moreover the injured Pulisic, Tillman and Weah, a number of different regulars have been omitted regardless of being out there. Central defender Chris Richards, a stalwart for Premier League Crystal Palace, was left in London, presumably to relaxation the calf harm Eagles supervisor Oliver Glasner says the Alabama native has been nursing this fall. 

Standout midfielder Weston McKennie will stay with Juventus, which not too long ago employed one more new supervisor, the Texan’s fourth since becoming a member of the Italian powerhouse 5 years in the past.

“I feel it is essential for Weston to be there and attempt to persuade the coach to maintain taking part in [him],” Pochettino stated. “It is extra essential than perhaps being with us,  as a result of we already know what he can present the staff.” 

First-choice left-back Antonee “Jedi” Robinson continues to be having knee points which have prevented him from making even one begin for London membership Fulham this Premier League season. 

“We’re involved, our medical workers, with the medical workers of Fullam,” Pochettino stated. “Sure, we’re apprehensive, in fact.” 

And there was no place for goalkeeper Matt Turner, who began all 4 video games for the People on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Turner is not scheduled to play one other aggressive match till the New England Revolution kick off the brand new MLS season in February. Midfielder Yunus Musah, one other mainstay in Qatar, was ignored for the fourth consecutive camp; Musah got here off the bench for Atalanta Wednesday and helped the Italian aspect protect a 1-0 win over a Weah-less Marseille in UEFA Champions League motion.

“Chris, Weston and Yunus — we actually know them,” Pochettino stated. “For various causes, we determined to not name them. Gio is a particular state of affairs, I feel.

“I am unable to clarify each single state of affairs,” continued the coach. “Too many gamers that we aren’t calling perhaps must be right here with us. However all the time, what we wish is to do the very best factor for the participant.” 

Midfielder Tyler Adams and ahead Brenden Aaronson not too long ago scored their first Premier League targets this season. Adams missed the October exhibitions due to the delivery of his second youngster.

The assembly with Paraguay represents a homecoming for 4 Philadelphia Union alums, as Aaronson, keeper Matt Freese, and central defenders Mark McKenzie and Auston Trusty all return to Subaru Park.

Fourteen of the 25 males summoned by Pochettino play for European golf equipment. With Liga MX-based ahead Alex Zendejas (knee harm) nonetheless out, the remaining 11 are MLS-based. Proper again Alex Freeman was not too long ago voted the 2025 MLS Younger Participant of the 12 months. Freeman, together with midfield duo Sebastian Berhalter and Cristian Roldan, have been named to MLS’s Greatest XI on Wednesday – as was injured Vancouver defender Tristan Blackmon.

The 25 invited gamers, listed under, will start reporting to the Philadelphia space following this weekend’s slate of membership matches in MLS and abroad.

Full Record

Goalkeepers: Roman Celentano, FC Cincinnati (MLS); Matt Freese, New York Metropolis FC (MLS); Jonathan Klinsmann, Cesena (Italy): Patrick Schulte, Columbus Crew (MLS) 

Defenders: Max Arfsten, Columbus; Sergino Dest, PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands); Alex Freeman, Orlando Metropolis (MLS); Mark McKenzie, Toulouse (France); Tim Ream, Charlotte (MLS); Miles Robinson, Cincinnati; Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach (Germany); John Tolkin, Holstein Kiel (Germany); Auston Trusty, Celtic (Scotland) 

Midfielders: Tyler Adams, Bournemouth (England), Sebastian Berhalter, Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Aidan Morris, Middlesbrough (England); Gio Reyna, Borussia Mönchengladbach; Cristian Roldan, Seattle Sounders (MLS); Tanner Tessmann, Lyon (MLS); Sean Zawadzki, Columbus

Forwards: Brenden Aaronson, Leeds United (England); Folarin Balogun, AS Monaco (France); Diego Luna, Actual Salt Lake (MLS), Ricardo Pepi, PSV; Haji Wright, Coventry Metropolis (England) 

Doug McIntyre is a soccer reporter for FOX Sports activities who has coated United States males’s and ladies’s nationwide groups at FIFA World Cups on 5 continents. Comply with him @ByDougMcIntyre.

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