SOCCER: Pulisic and Adams lead US 26-man World Cup squad

NEW YORK — Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie will headline the United States squad for the World Cup after head coach Mauricio Pochettino named his 26-man roster on Tuesday, selecting a group the Americans hope can deliver a deep run on home soil.

The squad is evenly split between 13 World Cup debutants and 13 players who featured at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, where the United States reached the round of 16. That group includes the team’s three goalscorers from Qatar — Pulisic, Tim Weah and Haji Wright — all of whom return with expanded roles and expectations.

“We are confident this is the best group of 26 players to help us achieve success at the World Cup,” Pochettino said in a statement. “These were very difficult decisions, and we are thankful to all the players who were part of this journey. This group is very focused and ready to give everything they have to represent the United States and deliver performances that will make the fans and the country proud.”

Pulisic, who plays for AC Milan, remains the most recognizable face of the squad and will again be central to the team’s attacking ambitions. Adams, who captained the 2022 World Cup side, brings leadership, intensity and versatility in midfield following his season with Premier League club Bournemouth.

AS Monaco forward Folarin Balogun is expected to lead the line under Pochettino’s preferred 3-4-2-1 system and could emerge as a key attacking focal point as the U.S. looks to add more consistency in front of goal.

REYNA AND ZENDEJAS INCLUDED, LUNA AND TESSMANN LEFT OUT

Gio Reyna earned selection despite limited minutes this season with Borussia Mönchengladbach, offering the United States additional creativity in the final third. Alejandro Zendejas also made the squad after a strong finish to the season with Liga MX side Club América, earning a recall after being omitted in March.

Among the notable absences were Diego Luna, who has been dealing with injury concerns, and Lyon midfielder Tanner Tessmann, both of whom had been in contention during the qualification cycle.

The United States will co-host the tournament with Mexico and Canada, marking the first time the country has hosted soccer’s premier global competition since 1994. Expectations are high for a team featuring a blend of established European-based players and emerging talent from domestic and international leagues.

McKennie said the squad has an opportunity to inspire a new generation of supporters in the United States.

“It’s a great opportunity for everyone on the roster and also for the fans who maybe don’t know a lot about soccer here in America to feel the passion,” he said at a squad reveal event in Manhattan. “I hope that we can make people fall in love with the game here and maybe be able to etch our names in the history books.”

The United States open their Group D campaign against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles, beginning a tournament run that will test the squad’s depth, cohesion and ability to perform under pressure on home soil. -Reporting by Rory Carroll in Long Beach, editing by Pritha Sarkar/Reuters