Pulisic, McKennie, and Reyna Lead USMNT Roster for March Friendlies

ATLANTA, Georgia – The United States Men’s National Team will face Belgium and Portugal in crucial friendly matches later this month at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino has named a 27-player roster headlined by Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Gio Reyna, as the team prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted in the United States.

Squad Announcement and Key Players

The March friendlies represent a pivotal checkpoint for the USMNT as they fine-tune their squad and tactics ahead of the 2026 World Cup . Pulisic and McKennie are central figures in Pochettino’s plans, providing experience and leadership. Gio Reyna’s inclusion is a notable storyline, as he returns to the national team despite limited playing time at the club level .

Full Roster Breakdown

The roster features a blend of established stars and emerging talent. Here’s a breakdown by position:

Goalkeepers (4)

• Chris Brady (Chicago Fire)
• Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati)
• Matt Freese (Recent York City FC)
• Matt Turner (New England Revolution)

Defenders (9)

• Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew)
• Alex Freeman (Villarreal)
• Mark McKenzie (Toulouse)
• Tim Ream (Charlotte FC)
• Chris Richards (Crystal Palace)
• Antonee Robinson (Fulham)
• Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati)
• Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
• Auston Trusty (Celtic)

Midfielders (8)

• Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps)
• Johnny Cardoso (Atlético de Madrid)
• Weston McKennie (Juventus)
• Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough)
• Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
• Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders)
• Tanner Tessmann (Olympique de Lyon)
• Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen)

Forwards (6)

• Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United)
• Patrick Agyemang (Derby County)
• Folarin Balogun (Monaco)
• Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven)
• Christian Pulisic (AC Milan)
• Tim Weah (Olympique Marseille)

Key Matchups and Objectives

The matches against Belgium and Portugal will provide Pochettino with a valuable opportunity to assess his team’s progress and experiment with different tactical approaches . The games are considered simulations of World Cup intensity, designed to expose strengths and vulnerabilities. The USMNT will also debut its new player-designed World Cup kits during the March window .

Notable Absences

Tyler Adams and Haji Wright were not included in the roster due to recent injuries. Sergino Dest is also unavailable due to a hamstring injury. Yunus Musah, Jack McGlynn, and Alejandro Zendejas are among other notable absentees . German-American dual-national Noahkai Banks has chosen to remain with FC Augsburg, with Germany also vying for his international allegiance .

Looking Ahead

Following the March friendlies, Pochettino will continue to evaluate players as he prepares to announce his final World Cup roster in May . These upcoming matches are crucial steps in the USMNT’s journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.