Tanner Tessman’s Surprising Exclusion from USMNT World Cup Roster

Tanner Tessman’s omission from the U.S. Men’s National Team for the upcoming World Cup has taken many by surprise, especially given his rising profile. However, head coach Mauricio Pochettino opted not to delve into the reasons behind the decision during a press briefing on Tuesday.

Pochettino refrained from explaining why Tessman and several others won’t be joining the squad, suggesting that discussing those not selected would be “disrespectful” to the 26 players who made the cut.

“I can’t talk about players who aren’t on the roster. That wouldn’t be fair to those who are,” Pochettino stated after the announcement event at Pier 17 in Lower Manhattan. “Respecting the choices made is crucial—you know, we’ve put a lot of effort over the past year and a half into getting to this stage and making informed decisions.” His tone reflected the weight of that responsibility.

Pochettino, who took over the U.S. team just last September, had a tight timeline to finalize his roster. During his brief tenure, he evaluated 61 different players in hopes of selecting the most suitable for next month’s tournament.

Tessman was regarded as a likely candidate for inclusion. He played in six first-team matches in 2025, notably scoring his first senior goal in a 5-1 victory over Uruguay last November. He also participated in the team’s training camp earlier this year.

Despite recently suffering a muscle strain that cut his club season short with Ligue 1 side Lyon, it wasn’t expected to hinder his World Cup prospects.

Interestingly, Tessman isn’t the only surprising exclusion; Diego Luna also faced a similar fate. The manner in which the players were informed of their exclusion has drawn criticism. It was reported that notifications were sent out via email, which some have deemed impersonal.

In defense of his approach, Pochettino reflected on his own experiences as a player for Argentina in the 1990s. “When I didn’t make the roster, I never reached out to the coach,” he recalled. “If I were to call, it would only be about me personally. I don’t think that’s how you handle these things.” His perspective highlights a commitment to professionalism, even if it feels a bit detached.