NEW YORK — U.S. men’s national team manager Mauricio Pochettino named a 26-player World Cup roster that includes 13 players who were on the last tournament squad, according to ESPN. Notable returnees listed by ESPN include Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams, and the group was formally announced Tuesday.
One of the most talked-about omissions was Olympique Lyon midfielder Tanner Tessmann. Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca said the club shut Tessmann down for much of May with a “muscle strain,” and Pochettino opted to leave him off the roster, according to ESPN. Sources told ESPN that the omission came as a “big surprise” to Tessmann.
Rather than add another central midfielder such as Middlesbrough’s Aidan Morris, Pochettino chose to bring Borussia Mönchengladbach fullback Joe Scally, ESPN reported. The report described Morris as a midfield “bulldog” who posted a 92% pass-completion rate for Middlesbrough this season while noting that his tendency to jump into passing lanes can sometimes leave the defense scrambling when he does not win the ball.
ESPN’s coverage noted Scally’s versatility — primarily a right back this season but with experience at center back and right wingback — and that he was part of the 2022 World Cup roster and has made more than 150 Bundesliga appearances. The piece also listed Timothy Weah, Sergiño Dest and Alex Freeman as alternatives at wingback/right back and said the squad already includes five other center backs. ESPN assessed that the decision leaves the U.S. looking relatively thin in central midfield.
According to ESPN, Adams remains the likely starter in midfield but has been susceptible to injury, McKennie may be better suited to a more advanced role, and Cristian Roldan is a possible partner for Adams. The story warned that yellow-card accumulations could force suspensions that would compromise the team’s defensive shape and that having Morris on the roster would have provided additional cover, per ESPN.
ESPN’s report also recalled a roster judgment from 2022, saying the choice of Jesús Ferreira over Ricardo Pepi proved costly when Josh Sargent was injured and Ferreira started against the Netherlands and “didn’t meet the moment.” On the attacking front, ESPN noted Pochettino is taking three forwards — Folarin Balogun, Haji Wright and Ricardo Pepi — each coming off strong club seasons, with Wright scoring 17 goals for Coventry City — the fewest of the three but still a substantial total, according to ESPN.
