The USA World Cup roster announcement for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be led by Mauricio Pochettino. The tournament starts on June 11, marking a pivotal moment for the USMNT.
The United States are gearing up for their most critical summer of soccer in the nation's history, as the USMNT will serve as joint-hosts for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With the tournament beginning on June 11, Mauricio Pochettino will lead the U.S. national team into a defining month of matches, as they look to make history with a deep run at this competition for the first time ever.
No U.S. men's team has reached past the quarterfinals at a modern FIFA World Cup, and they have reached that stage only once, in 2002 when they defeated Mexico in the Round of 16. Therefore, no USMNT side has ever beaten a non-CONCACAF opponent in the Round of 16 at a World Cup.
The players who will embark on that quest are set to be announced later this month, as The Sporting News brings you the details on that roster reveal which will kick off the highly-anticipated summer.
The United States will announce its 2026 FIFA World Cup squad on Tuesday, May 26 at 3 p.m. during a live event in New York City.
As per FIFA regulations, competing teams at the World Cup must submit a provisional roster of players by May 11, and their final, whittled-down list no later than May 30.
The final squad must contain at least 23 players and no more than 26. Thus, almost every team will carry the maximum 26 players.
The only other stipulation is that at least three of these players must be goalkeepers. Otherwise, Mauricio Pochettino largely has free rein over who to take to the tournament, with a few players locks to make the squad if fit while others are playing to make it in.
Up to 27 team officials will complete the traveling party.
Can USA replace players in their World Cup squad?
Teams are allowed to make a change to their squad due to injury or illness up to 24 hours before their first scheduled game of the tournament. Medical proof of the reason behind the withdrawal must be sent to FIFA for approval.
The Group D opener for the United States is against Paraguay in Inglewood, California on June 12, meaning any replacements would have to be arranged by June 11. After that, the squad is set for the tournament.
The one exception concerns goalkeepers: if any of the three are injured or ill and has to withdraw, they can be replaced by another keeper from the provisional list at any stage of the competition (again, subject to FIFA ratifying the change).
Prior to the World Cup, the United States will work from its brand new base of operations in Atlanta, Georgia, where the Arthur Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center, which only just opened on May 7.
From there, they will travel to their official World Cup hub in Irvine, California at a location known asĀ Great Park.
U.S. Soccer did not make its official team hotel public, but reports claim that theĀ Marriott Irvine Spectrum will be where the team stays. However, because the team will travel to Seattle for one group game, and then around the country should they reach the knockout stage, they will not be at that location the entire tournament.
