Five Biggest USMNT World Cup Roster Snubs: Stars Who Missed Pochettino’s 2026 Squad

Mauricio Pochettino has officially named his 26-man United States squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but as with every major tournament roster, several notable names were left out.

While there was no shocking omission on the scale of Landon Donovan in 2014 or Ricardo Pepi in 2022, a handful of players had strong cases to make the team and will now watch the tournament from home.

Here are the five biggest USMNT roster snubs ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

1. Tanner Tessmann (Midfielder, Lyon)

Tanner Tessmann is arguably the most surprising omission from Pochettino’s final squad.

The 24-year-old enjoyed a strong season with Lyon, showing his versatility by playing both in midfield and as an emergency center-back. Tessmann also featured regularly for the United States throughout 2025, appearing in six matches and earning a place in the March camp — the final roster gathering before World Cup selections.

Although a late-season muscle injury raised concerns, many expected him to recover in time for the tournament. Instead, Pochettino opted for other midfield options, leaving Tessmann off the roster
entirely.

2. Diego Luna (Attacking Midfielder, Real Salt Lake)

Diego Luna quickly became a fan favorite during the 2025 Gold Cup thanks to his creativity, work rate, and fearless mentality.

The Real Salt Lake playmaker earned praise after famously continuing to play through a broken nose during a January 2025 friendly. However, an untimely muscle injury kept him out of the March national team camp, significantly hurting his World Cup chances.

With fierce competition for attacking midfield spots, Luna ultimately missed out despite many believing he brought a unique spark to the squad.

3. Aidan Morris (Midfielder, Middlesbrough)

Aidan Morris appeared to be firmly in the mix for a World Cup spot after a consistent campaign with Middlesbrough.

The former Columbus Crew midfielder played a major role in Middlesbrough’s push for Premier League promotion and earned valuable minutes under Pochettino during friendlies against top opposition, including Portugal.

After injuries to Tanner Tessmann and Johnny Cardoso, Morris looked like a likely inclusion as midfield depth. However, he narrowly missed the final cut.

4. Zavier Gozo (Winger, Real Salt Lake)

At just 19 years old, Zavier Gozo was considered an outside contender for the World Cup roster — but his MLS performances generated serious buzz.

The versatile winger recorded six goals and five assists in only 14 matches for Real Salt Lake, impressing with his pace, energy, and ability to play both as a winger and wingback.

Despite calls from analysts and former players for a surprise inclusion, Pochettino chose experience over youth. Gozo’s senior USMNT debut will likely come after the World Cup cycle.

5. Patrick Schulte (Goalkeeper, Columbus Crew)

Patrick Schulte seemed well-positioned to claim the third goalkeeper spot after strong performances with Columbus Crew and the U.S. Olympic team.

The 25-year-old had been involved in several camps under Pochettino and was viewed as one of the country’s top emerging goalkeepers. However, the coaching staff instead selected 22-year-old Chris Brady to round out the goalkeeper group behind Matt Freese and Matt Turner.

Schulte’s omission was one of the tougher goalkeeper decisions in the squad selection process.

Pochettino Faces Difficult Decisions Ahead of Home World Cup

Building a World Cup squad always means difficult choices, and Pochettino faced intense competition across multiple positions.

With the tournament being played on home soil, expectations for the USMNT are higher than ever. While these five players missed out, each remains an important part of the national team picture moving forward.

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