USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino suggests it will be challenging for new players to break into the 2026 World Cup squad, emphasizing the importance of fitness and form in the upcoming friendlies. He indicates the core roster is largely set, with opportunities for fringe players in March.
U.S. men’s national team manager Mauricio Pochettino said that it will be “difficult” for players not currently in the USMNT picture to crack his 2026 World Cup squad, with only four friendly matches remaining until the opener against Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles.
The 53-year-old manager told reporters Thursday that he and his staff have assessed around 70 players since he took the role in 2024, but that it would take something exceptional for any new players to make their way into the 26-man roster that will play as a host nation alongside Canada and Mexico at this summer’s “We are close to the World Cup,” Pochettino said. “It’s true, it’s going to be difficult to bring some new players, because I think we don’t have time. But we already had time to assess all the players over a year and a half. I think we have a very good idea. Now it’s about our players will be fit and in very good form for us to select the right players.” Previously, Pochettino had suggested that he would call-up the same roster for friendlies against Senegal and Germany and the World Cup tofor players cut in the final camp. However, he will get a good opportunity to test some fringe players in March, with Atlanta-based friendlies against Belgium and Portugal scheduled. “It’s a great opportunity in March,” he said. “The idea is that the World Cup will start in March, when we all together, because it’s time to show like we were showing in the last camp —our identity, our way to play in the way we want to perform in the World Cup.”staff will want to pare down the roster for March and beyond, some key injured players may need both camps to test their form and fitness ahead of the tournament., despite being among the likely players to start World Cup matches in the summer. PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi finds himself in similar doubt for March, after sustaining a“We’ll see how he’s going to come back and start to play and to perform,” Pochettino said of Pepi. “Of course, he’s a player that is our radar. Hope he can be fit.”At the same time, there could be some reintroductions for players expected to be on the World Cup squad who were left off the November roster for various reasons. Headlining that list is Weston McKennie, who has“It’s really good that he is playing in a regular way, being very consistent now in Juventus,” Pochettino said of the 27-year-old, whose contract expires with the Italian giants at the end of the season. “Yes, we are happy that our player performs and plays in a very consistent, very regular way … Like I have said from the beginning, the job is to assess all the players that we already know, how to mix the 26 players, thinking, of course, always in the World Cup.”Ben Steiner is an American-Canadian journalist who brings in-depth experience, having covered the North American national teams, MLS, CPL, NWSL, NSL and Liga MX for prominent outlets, including MLSsoccer.com, CBC Sports, and OneSoccer.
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