RealGM Wiretap

USMNT's World Cup Roster Confirmed With Tanner Tessmann Omitted

May 23, 2026 3:48 PM

Lyon midfielder Tanner Tessmann has been left off the United States men's national team's 26-man World Cup roster, multiple sources briefed on the selections told The Athletic, in the most striking decision of coach Mauricio Pochettino's squad announcement.

Tessmann, 24, participated in six camps under Pochettino and started 22 of 29 Ligue 1 matches for Lyon this season. Many viewed him as a likely starter at the tournament. Lyon shut him down late in the season due to injury, though sources believed he would be fit in time for the World Cup.

His absence leaves the squad thin at central midfield. Tyler Adams, Sebastian Berhalter and Cristian Roldan fill those spots, with Weston McKennie available in a deeper role despite primarily being deployed further forward recently. Middlesbrough's Aidan Morris was also omitted.

Club America winger Alejandro Zendejas earned inclusion despite not appearing in a USMNT camp since October. Diego Luna, who has been managing a muscle injury, was also left out, as previously reported by The Athletic.

Three players absent from the 2022 Qatar squad are back in center back Miles Robinson and Chris Richards, both sidelined by injury four years ago, and forward Ricardo Pepi, widely considered a final cut from that roster.

The attacking group features Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Malik Tillman, Tim Weah, Brenden Aaronson and Zendejas. Strikers Folarin Balogun and Pepi each scored 19 goals across all competitions this season, while Haji Wright netted 18.

The roster will be formally unveiled Tuesday at Pier 17 in Manhattan. Official submissions to FIFA are due June 1. The U.S. opens group stage play June 12 against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium, followed by Australia in Seattle on June 19 and Turkey at SoFi on June 25.

The United States are +120 favorites to win Group D, according to our latest World Cup betting odds.