Former USMNT Star Calls 2026 World Cup Roster 'Too Safe'
The United States Men's National Team World Cup roster has been revealed at a fan event in New York City.
Most of the players on the roster were present for the presentation of the USMNT World Cup roster announcement. The roster does not surprise many, following the leak of the roster a few days ago.
Here to chase legacy on home soil.
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) May 26, 2026
Mauricio Pochettino has selected the 26 players to represent the United States this summer. pic.twitter.com/S8sF7l0PMi
With confirmation of the 26 players in the USMNT World Cup roster, former USMNT player, Sacha Kljestan, questions the list including bold names, and calls it safe.
On the MLS Countdown show, Kljestan and Taylor Twellman react to the official USMNT World Cup roster, and both describe the list as safe, with familiar players present, but also due to the number of defenders included.
Former USMNT players on why the 2026 World Cup Roster is 'Safe'
Sacha Kljestan's first reaction to the official USMNT World Cup roster was describing it as safe, as the former USMNT player wanted to see other names on the list, younger players like Zavier Gozo and Julian Hall.
Kljestan said, "I think the list is safe, is what it is, and I would have liked to see it be a little bit more bold. I would have liked to see some wild cards thrown in there. I would have loved to see [Zavier] Gozo and Julian Hall be in this roster as players off the bench."
Kljestan mentions the number of defenders by saying, "10 defenders? Only a couple of center mids. I would just say my word is safe for this roster."
Taylor Twellman details the roster and believes there are too many defenders. Twellam said, "It's listed as ten defenders. There is seven players on that roster that can play center back. Seven!"
Twellman talks about the lack of midfielders as well and said, "There's four midfielders. I'm still stunned that if Tyler Adams has a yellow-card accumulation or an injury, who's the six? There's no [Aidan] Morris, no [Tanner] Tessmann. The way it was announced, it feels very safe, pragmatic, scared for lack of a better way to put it."
"I think the list is safe." - @SachaKljestan
— MLS on Air (@MLSonAir) May 26, 2026
The MLS Countdown crew reacts to the USMNT's World Cup roster, what are your thoughts on the 26-man squad? pic.twitter.com/pXJuTf3TK4
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This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 4:41 PM.