Pochettino Navigates Rumors

Managers Dealt With Questions About His Next Job During World Cup Prep

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just weeks away, USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino finds himself juggling tournament preparations alongside an unwanted off-field distraction: reported interest from AC Milan.

The story broke Thursday morning as the U.S. squad gathered at the newly opened Arthur M. Blank National Training Center outside Atlanta. Reports emerged that Pochettino had met with Milan representatives about their vacant coaching position following the dismissal of Massimiliano Allegri. When asked directly, Pochettino denied personally meeting with Milan officials, but left the door open regarding his representatives. "My representatives? It may be possible because they need to do their job," he said.

Despite the noise, U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson firmly dismissed concerns about distraction. "I'm confident that Mauricio and team are 100 percent focused on this summer," Batson told reporters, noting that Pochettino's staff were among the first to arrive and last to leave the training facility.

Pochettino's contract expires following the tournament, and the Argentine hasn't hidden his desire to eventually return to club soccer in Europe, where he has homes in London and Barcelona. Still, he insists his commitment to the World Cup is ironclad.

On the football side, preparations appear well advanced. Pochettino reportedly had his preferred starting lineup locked in since before March camp. The team will play final tuneups against Senegal on May 31 in Charlotte and Germany on June 6 in Chicago before heading to their California base ahead of the June 12 opener against Paraguay in Los Angeles.

USMNT Release 2026 World Cup Roster

Manager Pochettino Named His 26-Man Roster on Tuesday

Mauricio Pochettino unveiled the United States Men's National Team's 26-player World Cup roster on Tuesday, May 26, during a star-studded event at Pier 17 in New York City, broadcast live on FOX. The team will now head to Atlanta to begin final preparations before two pre-tournament friendlies.

The selections were largely predictable, with 13 players returning from the 2022 Qatar squad, including marquee names like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams. Pulisic leads the roster with 84 caps, making him the most experienced player on the team.

The forward group drew particular praise. Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi and Haji Wright combined for 56 club goals this season, with Balogun scoring 19 for Monaco, Pepi also netting 19 to lead PSV Eindhoven to a Dutch title despite injury, and Wright bagging 18 to help Coventry City earn Premier League promotion.

The roster wasn't without controversy, however. The omission of Lyon midfielder Tanner Tessmann, who was shut down by his club due to a muscle strain, came as a "big surprise" to the player himself. Rather than replacing him with another midfielder like Aidan Morris, Pochettino instead added defender Joe Scally, a move that left the midfield looking thin on depth.

For the first time since MLS launched in 1996, all three goalkeepers on the roster—Chris Brady, Matt Freese, and Matt Turner—play in the domestic league. Notably, Brady becomes the first uncapped player named to a USMNT World Cup roster since Juergen Sommer in 1994.

The Americans open Group D play against Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles.

World Cup Roster Leaked

The Guardian Released the Roster Ahead of the Official Release on Tuesday

Mauricio Pochettino's 26-man World Cup roster leaked ahead of its official Tuesday unveiling in New York City, and the biggest story isn't who made it, it's who didn't. Lyon midfielder Tanner Tessmann, who featured in each of the last six USMNT games, was left off the squad despite being considered a likely starter before suffering a muscle injury. His absence leaves the midfield looking thin, with only four central or defensive midfielders on the squad: Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Sebastian Berhalter, and Cristian Roldan.

On the positive side, Gio Reyna made the team despite not starting a club match since December, a testament to Pochettino's belief in the young attacker's creative ability. Club América winger Alejandro Zendejas was also confirmed on the roster, likely at the expense of Real Salt Lake's Diego Luna.

The defensive corps is notably heavy, with 10 defenders selected to compete for four or five starting spots. The USMNT opens World Cup play on June 12 against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Morris Playing for the Premier League

After the Southampton Controversy, Boro Play in the EFL Championship Play-Off Final

Aidan Morris and Middlesbrough are getting an unexpected second shot at Premier League promotion after Southampton's expulsion from the playoffs following a spying scandal, setting up a Championship final showdown with Hull City at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

Middlesbrough originally fell to Southampton 2-1 on aggregate in the semifinals, with Morris logging 90 minutes in the first-leg draw at the Riverside before playing the full 120 minutes in the extra-time second-leg loss at St. Mary's. His 44 appearances this season already represent a career best for the USMNT midfielder.

The road back hasn't been without turbulence. Head coach Kim Hellberg admitted it was "impossible" for his players to train during the chaotic period of uncertainty surrounding Southampton's expulsion, leaving questions about their mental readiness heading into Saturday's showpiece.

Hull, meanwhile, has had over a week to prepare and boast a strong playoff pedigree, having won their previous two Championship playoff finals. They also handed Boro a 1-0 defeat at the Riverside back in December.

Still, the stakes couldn't be higher. The winner joins Coventry City and Ipswich Town in the Premier League next season, with Morris and Middlesbrough hoping to make their unlikely second chance count.

Arfsten Scores in Open Cup

World Cup Hopeful Scored The Winner in the Open Cup Quarterfinal

Max Arfsten delivered the decisive moment Wednesday night as the Columbus Crew defeated New York City FC 1-0 at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field to advance to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Semifinals for the first time since 2010.

In what was a battle between two USMNT teammates, Arfsten got the better of NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese in the 59th minute. Assisted by 22-year-old Azerbaijani international Nariman Akhundzada, in his first Open Cup goal contribution for the club, Arfsten found space on the right side, cut inside, and curled a left-footed shot past a diving Freese at the far post.

"I just saw the moment to cut inside, and I saw a little bit of space, and it went in," Arfsten said.

Despite Freese finishing the match with seven saves, Columbus largely dominated proceedings, limiting NYCFC to five shots, none of which found the target. Goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen earned a clean sheet without being forced into a single save.

"Even though we were winning 1-0, we still had the ball, and we're being a bit daring and bold," Arfsten noted.

The Crew will host Orlando City SC in the Semifinals the week of September 16-17.

Richards Injury Update

Defender "Should" Be Ready For The World Cup

US men's national team center back Chris Richards is racing against time ahead of the World Cup after Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner confirmed Thursday that he tore two ligaments in his ankle during last weekend's 2-2 draw with Brentford.

Glasner ruled Richards out of Sunday's season finale against Arsenal and called it "50-50" whether he'd be fit for Crystal Palace's UEFA Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig next Wednesday. Sources close to the player told The Athletic the final would likely come "a day or two" too soon, though he should be "good" for the World Cup. A source also told the New York Post that Richards is expected to miss just 7-8 days and could still feature in Leipzig.

Adding further optimism, Men in Blazers reported they spoke with Richards' agent, who described the injury as minor and said he shouldn't miss a single minute of the tournament.

The news is a significant relief for coach Mauricio Pochettino, who is days away from naming his World Cup squad. Richards is widely considered the USMNT's most important center back, and the Americans open Group D play against Paraguay on June 12 in Inglewood, California.

Pepi Scores in Season Finale

Forward and His Compatriot Finish the Eredivisie Season With a Win

Ricardo Pepi rounded off PSV Eindhoven's Eredivisie season with a penalty in an emphatic 5-1 victory over FC Twente on Saturday, while fellow American Sergiño Dest contributed a solid all-around display from left back.

Pepi's goal came in the 84th minute, converting from the spot after substitute Anass Salah-Eddine had won the penalty. It was a fitting end to a dominant afternoon for Peter Bosz's side, who had already put the game to bed well before the American striker added the gloss. Pepi had actually thought he'd scored earlier, putting the ball in the net in the 21st minute, only to be flagged for offside. He won all three of his ground duels and completed both dribble attempts, bringing a physical presence throughout.

The result was a dominant one for PSV, who led 2-1 at half-time thanks to Ryan Flamingo's early header and Noah Fernandez's effort just before the break, with Twente briefly leveling through Sondre Ørjasæter. Dennis Man and Guus Til extended the lead after the restart before Pepi's late penalty sealed it — PSV's 100th goal of the season.

Dest, operating at left back, was busy and effective. He created two chances, including one big chance, made eight recoveries, and completed three of five dribble attempts. He was cautioned with a yellow card, the one blemish on an otherwise productive afternoon.

For Twente, the defeat confirmed a fourth-place finish, meaning Europa League qualifying rather than Champions League football awaits them next season—a significant blow given how close they came.

Trusty and Celtic Win the SPL

Defender Helped Celtic Seal the Title Against Hearts

Auston Trusty capped a remarkable season by helping Celtic clinch a fifth consecutive Scottish Premiership title on Saturday, as Martin O'Neill's side produced a stunning comeback to beat Hearts 3-1 at a raucous Celtic Park.

The 27-year-old American center-back started and played 73 minutes of one of the most dramatic title deciders Scottish football has seen in years. Hearts had led the table for 250 days this season and went ahead through Lawrence Shankland's header just before half-time, putting Derek McInnes' side on the brink of their first championship since 1960. But Celtic leveled through Arne Engels' penalty after a handball call, and the momentum began to shift.

The decisive moment came in the 87th minute when Daizen Maeda slotted home Callum Osmond's pull-back. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but a VAR review confirmed Osmond's run had been perfectly timed. With Hearts pushing desperately for an equalizer, Osmond broke clear to add a third in stoppage time, sending the Celtic Park faithful streaming onto the pitch in celebration.

Trusty finished the match having made eight defensive contributions, seven of which came from headed clearances, and completed 72 of 78 passes. It was his 40th appearance of the season and his third trophy as a Celtic player.

"I think putting all this year into perspective, yes, absolutely," Trusty said about it being the best season of his career. "Behind the scenes stuff, there's been highs, there's been lows. But really, to see us come together at this point and to come back in the past few games and really make a mark and win the game, it's fantastic. The guys are just amazing."

The title win adds another remarkable chapter to a career Trusty has built through relentless determination and vivid self-belief. For Celtic, the Scottish Cup Final against Dunfermline Athletic on May 23 is the final match of the season, and for Trusty personally, a potential World Cup call-up looms shortly after.

Aaronson Limps Off

Midfielder Subbed Off Early in Leeds Victory Over Brighton

Brenden Aaronson gave Leeds United and USMNT fans a brief scare on Sunday before manager Daniel Farke allayed fears, confirming the 25-year-old's injury was nothing more than a dead leg.

Aaronson had been putting in a solid shift in Leeds' 1-0 win over Brighton when things took a turn just after halftime. Around the 57th minute, he began visibly struggling, his usual energetic presence noticeably diminished. A minute later, he went to the ground and called for medical attention. After consultations with the medical staff and some manual tests on his left leg, Aaronson limped off the pitch and was replaced, looking concerned but not distraught as he made his way to the bench.

Farke moved quickly to calm nerves afterward. "It was just a dead leg," the Leeds manager said. "He was, even at halftime, on the bike trying to keep going. It normally just lasts a few days, but it was getting tighter and tighter. He should be alright for the next game." That next game is Leeds' season finale against West Ham on May 24.

The timing of any injury is delicate with the World Cup weeks away, and USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino is set to name his 26-man squad on May 26. Aaronson, who has 57 caps and nine international goals to his name, has had a productive Premier League season, scoring four goals and adding five assists in 36 appearances for a Leeds side many had tipped for relegation.

While he hasn't been a regular starter for the national team recently, his club form has strengthened his case for a spot in the squad. If healthy, he profiles as an impact substitute in the mold of his 2022 World Cup role in Qatar. Farke's update suggests that the dream remains firmly intact.

Richards Injury Scare

Defender Needed Help Off the Field After a Draw Against Brentford

Chris Richards endured a nervy end to Sunday's 2-2 draw between Crystal Palace and Brentford, limping off and needing assistance to get down the tunnel at the Gtech Community Stadium after twisting his ankle in the closing stages.

The 26-year-old center-back came off the bench in the 61st minute, replacing the injured Maxence Lacroix, and played the final 29 minutes of the match. The injury occurred when Brentford striker Igor Thiago landed on Richards' ankle after the American had jumped to win a header. Despite clearly being in significant pain, Richards remarkably stayed on the pitch and played through it—a decision that raised eyebrows given the match held little bearing on Palace's season.

Oliver Glasner confirmed the diagnosis afterward, though he stopped short of providing a timeline for recovery. "He twisted his ankle," Glasner said. "I think he got Thiago landing on his ankle, and then it twisted. It's quite swollen, so we have to assess it further, but hopefully he can return in the midweek."

The timing could hardly be worse. Richards, who has made 49 appearances in all competitions for Palace this season, faces a pivotal fortnight. Crystal Palace conclude their Premier League campaign against Arsenal on May 24, before an even bigger occasion three days later—a UEFA Conference League final against Spanish club Rayo Vallecano, which would be the club's first-ever European final.

Beyond the club stage, Richards is also a key figure for the USMNT heading into the home World Cup this summer. Mauricio Pochettino is set to name his 26-man squad on May 26—just two days after Palace's final league fixture.

A rolled ankle can range from a minor setback to a more serious ligament issue, and with so much at stake, the coming days of assessment will be anxiously watched by club and country alike.