Out of the 26 players chosen for the USMNT’s World Cup roster, Tim Ream felt a mix of calm and nerves. Having captained the team 16 times in 23 matches under Coach Mauricio Pochettino, his exclusion would have been a significant surprise, even considering his recent form drop at Charlotte FC.
When he got a WhatsApp message on Friday with a video of Pochettino sharing the roster news, Ream admitted it made him stop in his tracks. He was leaving a practice session in Charlotte, arms loaded with bobbleheads for kids, and suddenly found himself on the phone with his wife, bursting with excitement.
“I usually keep it together,” Ream reflected. “But there was definitely some stress leading up to this. It’s that feeling when you really want to be part of something larger than yourself. I’m not typically emotional, but yeah, I was relieved. My family was definitely a bit shaky too when they heard.”
Now, reality is setting in. The tournament, anticipated since the U.S. secured the event alongside Canada and Mexico eight years ago, is rushing towards them. On Tuesday at Pier 17, the group finally gathered for the first time after the official announcement that had been leaked over the weekend.
For Tanner Tessman and Diego Lunas, the news was disappointing. Both had significant roles under Pochettino the previous year, yet were left off the final roster. Pochettino shared that he struggled to sleep in the weeks leading up to the decision, feeling immense pressure to finalize the team.
Pochettino stated, “I believe in every player on this roster.” He emphasized his trust in their abilities as a key reason for their selection and said he believes they’ll perform well.
The USMNT is set to fly from New York to Atlanta, where they’ll train at a new facility before facing Senegal in Charlotte over the weekend for one of their two friendlies prior to the World Cup.
The team will continue traveling across the country, starting with a second friendly against Germany in Chicago, before establishing their base in Irvine, California. Here, they’ll play two of their three group stage matches in Los Angeles. After this journey, the players will face a bittersweet parting as they conclude this unique, home World Cup experience.
The excitement of Tuesday afternoon, and the upcoming seven weeks, is precisely what they’ve been working towards for so long.
Christian Pulisic recalls being 19 when the U.S. claimed the World Cup title. He experienced the heartbreak of missing the 2018 World Cup, being on the field in Trinidad, tears in his eyes. Since then, he’s been integral to the national team’s resurgence. Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie share similar experiences, having grown together within the team, some players even being too young to drink when first selected.
“People might not get that playing abroad means you can’t always be yourself around others,” Adams noted. “I’ve known these teammates since we were kids. Coming back here always feels like home.”
Now, the long-awaited moment is finally here, and this group of 26 must rise to the occasion or carry the weight of what could have been.
“We genuinely want this,” Pulisic expressed. “If you’re not a bit nervous, then you’re not invested. We care deeply.”
