NEW YORK – Sixteen days from the kickoff of FIFA World Cup 2026™, the tournament officially began for the U.S. Men’s National Team in the same city where the team will aim to conclude its run.
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino selected his 26-player roster, which was announced at an energetic, fan-driven event on Pier 17 in New York City. The Big Apple will also host the Final in the latest edition of the sport’s most competitive tournament.
In a wonderful setting overlooking the East River, U.S. soccer fans flooded the Financial District with red, white and blue. They lifted scarves that read “Never Chase Reality” and led chants on the pier’s rooftop to create a zealous environment to officially welcome Pochettino’s squad.
“That’s America,” midfielder Tyler Adams said. “I’d expect nothing less.”
For the players whose names were announced during the live show, this moment was a dream come true, the culmination of lifelong ambition and hard work. As former USMNT forward and now podcaster Landon Donovan said on the broadcast, “While the fans have been thinking about June 12, these players have had May 26 circled on their calendars.”
To make it official, each player took the long walk from the green room to the event stage, then heard his name called emphatically by either broadcaster Alexi Lalas or Stu Holden. More than 1,500 fans in attendance greeted the players with excited cheers. Under the bright lights (and bright sun), players soaked in the moment and held up Stripes jersey with their names and numbers.
Fans pose in front of the main stage prior to the roster reveal in New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
Weston McKennie on stage during the roster reveal in New York City (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
It was eight years ago that U.S. Soccer won the joint bid to host FIFA World Cup 2026™. While the tournament on home soil has been years in the making, many players expressed that being named to the roster was the moment it started to become real for them.
Two days ago, Adams was playing for his club AFC Bournemouth against Nottingham Forest FC, securing a place in the UEFA Europa League for the first time in the club’s history. The midfielder’s mindset has been focused on his club season until he arrived in New York for the event. Getting off the plane and going to Times Square made the reality of this summer, and the eight years it took to get here, feel much closer.
“It's on our doorstep now,” defender Tim Ream said. “Seeing all the different branding and things that are being put up around the around the country, it's made it that much more real in the past couple weeks.”
“Once I got here and was with the team, and I felt these fans, the support around [here], and the buzz around the World Cup is when I really started to feel it,” forward Christian Pulisic said.
