‘I actually started crying’: Joy and relief at being part of the US World Cup team

NEW YORK — Four years ago, when he was named to the United States’ 26-man roster for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, it was no surprise to Gio Reyna. Then a 19-year-old prodigy with German titans Borussia Dortmund, the only question was whether the son of former U.S. World Cup captain Claudio Reyna and former women’s national team forward Danielle Egan would start in Qatar or provide a spark off the bench. A lot has happened since then. Reyna, as we know, barely played. He has also hardly played at all over the years, as a series of injuries has limited him to just a handful of appearances over the last four European club seasons. That includes the just-concluded 2025-26 campaign, his first with Borussia Mönchengladbach, in which Reyna started just four of the 19 matches he appeared in and scored just one goal. Still, most close observers of the national team felt that in a team lacking creativity, Reyna’s past performances with the U.S. team – in November, he scored within minutes of his first start under coach Mauricio Pochettino – would likely make the Argentine’s list. Reyna wasn’t so sure. He was sitting next to his wife when the email arrived confirming he was returning to the World Cup, then immediately called his parents to let them know. “We were all looking forward to, hopefully, some good news,” Reyna said Tuesday after being announced as part of the final U.S. squad at FOX’s roster reveal event at Pier 17 in Lower Manhattan. A balmy afternoon in New York took on a concert feel with 25 of the 26 selected players in attendance, marching onto a large stage in front of raucous American fans. Each player wore identical dark gray suits with the US Soccer crest sewn into the jacket pocket, rocking the red and white striped jerseys they will sport this summer. In his post-revelation press conference following the star-studded festivities, US manager Mauricio Pochettino – just as smartly dressed as his players – explained why Reyna was one of his choices. “Gio also has incredible talent and experience… He can add different things to the team… he can help, because he is a different player, a different talent,” Pochettino explained. “I think in every team you have to have a player like him.” Reyna is one of 13 survivors from Qatar, exactly half of the team. For newcomers like striker Alex Zendejas, reaching the pinnacle of football is the culmination of a lifelong dream. “I actually started crying when I found out,” said Zendejas, who survived the cut despite not taking part in Pochettino’s last three camps dating back to last autumn. “I couldn’t believe it. I was super shocked and grateful.” But Pochettino always had him on the radar, ever since he scored the winner in a friendly against Japan last September. “Alejandro is a player who, for us, always represents a wealth of possibilities,” Pochettino said in his native Spanish. “I think he is the only player we have with a real wide player profile, but he is also capable of playing as an inside midfielder. “He has an eye for goal,” Pochettino continued. “He communicates exceptionally well with the rest of his teammates, with whom he shares a very strong relationship. It generates a lot of positive energy. I see him as a fascinating player from a tactical perspective, particularly in terms of the tactical flexibility we look to incorporate and the immediate contributions he can make on the pitch. Zendejas’ case has probably been helped by Diego Luna’s ongoing injury problems this season in MLS. But the Liga MX star also brings intangible qualities. That has helped him, too. “Another crucial factor to consider is that this is a tournament that will hopefully last almost two months of life together,” Pochettino said. “It’s essential to look beyond just the technical quality that I talked about; Players must also possess this human quality, this character, so that they are not only able to perform on the field, but also able to provide support and encouragement off the field. » Yet while 26 players received World Cup invitations when the emails were sent last Friday, the other 29 players on the provisional 55-man list submitted to FIFA earlier this month saw their dreams shattered. “Even today I can’t enjoy the 26 guys in front of me,” he said, “because I’m thinking about the players who are absent.”