USMNT Releases Final Roster Ahead of Next Month’s World Cup

The 2026 World Cup is just weeks away, and all 48 teams have submitted their final rosters.

One of the most anticipated reveals was the US men’s national team, which has one of the deepest talent pools in its history. The roster had been leaked early last week, but was officially announced on Friday. 

It included some surprises, and all but confirmed the loss of one of the team’s top prospects. We’ll share the biggest takeaways and how it could impact the team’s chances in the largest World Cup yet.

Tessman, Luna Left Off USMNT Roster

One of the biggest surprises from the 2026 USMNT World Cup roster is the absence of midfielder Tanner Tessman. The 24-year-old has been viewed as a potential star for the USMNT, set to join in 2024. He had been invited to join the team in three consecutive international windows, where he started most matches. 

This led many to assume he’d play a major role this summer, but manager Mauricio Pochettino decided against including him on the final roster.

Another big surprise involved Diego Luna, who played a big role for the USMNT since January 2025. He had appeared to be a favorite of Pochettino, who often praised his hard-nosed style of play. While an injury kept him off the pitch in March, he returned to finish the season with Real Salt Lake. 

Banks Time With USMNT May Be Over

While not overly surprising, many USMNT fans were hoping to see Noahkai Banks on the 2026 World Cup roster. 

The 19-year-old was the most promising young player in the team’s system, joining the U17 squad in 2023. He appeared in 12 international matches at different levels, and had been expected to fight for a roster spot for next month’s World Cup. However, the young star’s tune began to change earlier this year.

After years of commitment to the program, Banks began considering a move to Germany. His mother is from the country, and that's where he has spent his young pro career. With his name missing from the final roster, it seems the USMNT has likely lost its most promising prospect.

USMNT Remains Group D Betting Favorite

While the final USMNT roster had some surprises, it hasn’t changed the way bookmakers view their odds for the 2026 World Cup.

Sports betting sites still have the US as a slight favorite to win Group D over Paraguay, who they defeated during an international friendly in November. Bettors could change that between now and the tournament’s June kickoff, but the final roster selection may not be the reason they back away from the USMNT.

As surprising as some of the decisions were, the biggest story remains Christian Pulisic's poor play. The team’s star began struggling with AC Milan this season, and it carried over into his play at the international level. As deep as the US talent pool is, few believe they can win anything without Pulisic leading the way.