Giovanni Reyna included in US World Cup squad, four years after Doha drama
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Borussia Monchengladbach's Giovanni Reyna, one of the most technically gifted attacking players available for the US, has been selected for the Americans' World Cup squad.
PHOTO: EPA
NEW YORK – US coach Mauricio Pochettino named Giovanni Reyna in his 26-strong squad for the World Cup on May 26, four years after the midfielder was almost sent home from the 2022 tournament in Qatar following a bust-up with former coach Gregg Berhalter.
The Borussia Monchengladbach player made substitute appearances in his country’s 5-2 defeat by Belgium and 2-0 loss to Portugal in friendlies in March, after impressing Pochettino during the November international window in 2025.
He has had limited game time at club level in 2026, making only eight appearances off the bench for the Bundesliga side.
But the 23-year-old remains one of the most technically gifted attacking players available, as Pochettino prepares for the Americans’ World Cup opener against Paraguay in Los Angeles on June 12.
Reyna was involved in an explosive controversy at the 2022 edition in Doha, when it emerged after the tournament that he had almost been kicked out of the camp by then coach Berhalter over his attitude in training.
That led to Reyna’s mother informing US Soccer of a physical altercation in 1991 between Berhalter and his then girlfriend, and now wife, which triggered an investigation by the federation.
Pochettino’s squad was announced at a roster-reveal event in New York on May 26.
“I think we were seeing, analysing, assessing all the situations and we decided the 26 players of the roster,” he said, adding that he was seeking the “best balance in the 26” picks.
The coach declined to comment on high-profile figures such as Tanner Tessmann and Diego Luna, who were left out, while relying heavily on the likes of Tyler Adams and Christian Pulisic.
“I think we cannot talk about the players that are not in the roster, because it’s very disrespectful to the players that made the roster,” he said.
“I know what it means to be out of the roster. In 1994, the World Cup in the US, I was out... finally I made the roster (for the 2002 edition). That is why I know it’s so painful, but that is my job.”
Little suspense surrounded the event, with details of Pochettino’s selection leaking out in US media reports for several days leading up to the formal announcement on May 26.
As expected, Europe-based players made up the bulk of his squad with names like Pulisic (AC Milan), Weston McKennie (Juventus) and Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco) all included alongside English Premier League players Adams (Bournemouth), Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace) and Antonee Robinson (Fulham).
Among the Major League Soccer players included in the roster is former coach Berhalter’s son, Sebastian, the Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder. AFP
