Clint Dempsey admits USMNT roster has ‘some surprises,’ but explains optimistic mindset about World Cup squad

Former U.S. men’s national team captain Clint Dempsey has acknowledged that Mauricio Pochettino’s 26-man World Cup roster contains unexpected selections, while maintaining that the squad is capable of a deep run at the 2026 tournament on home soil. Pochettino formally unveiled the group in Manhattan, confirming a defensively weighted configuration that has drawn scrutiny from supporters and analysts alike.

Speaking as a Fox Sports analyst, Dempsey identified Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Antonee Robinson, Chris Richards, and Folarin Balogun as the players whose performances would most determine the team’s fate. He also offered measured praise for inclusions that surprised parts of the fan base, pointing to Alex Zendejas – whose club form at América and a goal against Japan in a recent friendly earned his place – and Giovanni Reyna, whose production rate with the national team Dempsey described as among the highest in the squad. Two notable absentees, Diego Luna and Tanner Tessman, drew sympathy from the former forward, who said it was natural to feel for players left out of a home World Cup.

Dempsey, who represented the United States at three World Cups during his playing career, framed an early result as critical to generating the kind of domestic momentum he observed during the men’s and women’s hockey competitions at the Winter Olympics. The U.S. opens Group D play against Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles, and Dempsey said a strong start would be central to building a home-crowd effect that could carry the team through the knockout stages.

The 26-man roster is expected to remain unchanged ahead of FIFA’s June 1 registration deadline. Pochettino, in his first World Cup as a head coach, has already found himself defending several of his selections publicly – a dynamic that will intensify as the tournament approaches and scrutiny of the squad’s attacking depth continues.