We weren’t supposed to know Mauricio Pochettino’s U.S. men’s national team World Cup roster until it was revealed live on a television special on Tuesday. But after a report from The Guardian, one that’s since been widely confirmed, unveiled the entire 26-player squad, we can all enjoy unwrapping Pochettino’s present a few days early.
Since settling into his post, the Argentine hasn’t been afraid to throw a curveball when it comes to his selections. His World Cup picks were no different. Plenty of expected players made the cut — but there were several surprises, too.
So: did Pochettino make the right choices? Let’s break it all down by grading the selections at each position.
Goalkeeper
- Matt Freese, New York City FC
- Matt Turner, New England Revolution
- Chris Brady, Chicago Fire
The United States lacks a true top-level goalkeeper plying their trade for one of the best clubs in the world (or, really, even one of the better clubs in the world).
