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Clint Dempsey had the honor of representing the United States in three World Cups, and there were probably times during all three where questions arose about the roster once it was revealed before the tournament.
The same goes for this year’s USMNT 2026 team, whose official roster was revealed Tuesday in Manhattan. Not only did the spectacle confirm previous reports about what the team would look like, but coach Mauricio Pochettino’s first World Cup team has already sparked some defense from the manager.
Dempsey, speaking to Pak Gazette Digital while highlighting his work as a mentor to world health leader Abbott’s Dream Team alongside Real Madrid, admitted that this USMNT roster comes with some surprise.
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Clint Dempsey watches before the Concacaf Nations League semifinal match between the United States and Panama at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on March 20, 2025. (Omar Vega/Getty Images)
“There are definitely some surprises,” he said. “It seems like we have a very defensive squad, especially in that right-back position. But look, I’m not the one who selects this team. I still think this team can perform very well, but you’re going to need great performances from people like Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic and [Falorin] Balogun. “I don’t want to say that there aren’t other forwards who can contribute or other players, but for me, those players jump out of the squad.”
Dempsey singled out two players that others were surprised to see excluded: Diego Luna and Tanner Tessman, whom he said he naturally “feels bad about.” However, Dempsey is not going to discredit what others who made up his first World Cup squad bring to the table.
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“You look at other players who came in. Shout out to [Alex] Zendejas, how well you have played for Club América. That left foot he has, his ability to finish, but also his ability to assist and shoot balls with that left foot. He scored a really good goal against Japan in one of their friendlies.
“I think a surprise to some people may be Gio [Reyna]”but if you look at his form with the national team, he is at the top in terms of his production rate and what he gives to this team.”
It is rare for the list to change before the June 1 FIFA deadline, meaning this is the 26-man squad that Pochettino believes in, and this will be the group that will have the privilege of representing their country at home during the World Cup.
The US men’s national team poses during the 2026 World Cup roster announcement in New York on May 26, 2026. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP)
Dempsey said that as a child he used to pray before going to bed so he could wear the stars and stripes on his jersey at a World Cup, and he was able to do it more than once. But to play against his home country, Dempsey is now praying the team gets off to a good start against Paraguay to begin their Group D game on June 12 in Los Angeles.
“I just think about getting off to a good start, getting the fan base behind them, like what you saw at the Winter Olympics with the men’s and women’s hockey teams. I’m sure there are other examples that I could draw from, but for me, that’s something that I definitely noticed from the outside. Hopefully it’s something that they can connect with these fans and create that 12th man. That’s what it takes to push you through the big moments,” he said.
ABBOTT’S DREAM TEAM
For the second year in a row, Dempsey is helping Abbott and Real Madrid with the “Abbott Dream Team,” a program that encourages 18- and 19-year-old soccer players from across the United States to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime development experience with one of the world’s best soccer clubs in Madrid.
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Selected participants will train with Real Madrid coaches at the team’s facilities, while enjoying unique experiences such as attending a match at the Bernabéu Stadium and meeting some team legends. Real Madrid’s medical team will also continue to provide these players with the latest advances in sports health and nutrition, helping them better understand their bodies, develop healthier habits and achieve peak performance on and off the field.
“It’s amazing, man. Any time you can give back and give kids the opportunity to chase their dreams, that’s what it’s all about,” Dempsey said of his role in this. “I have my own kids, and that’s what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to help them achieve their dreams, take them to all their soccer practices and give them the best possible opportunity to do something great. This is one of those things where you have a tryout, you have the Real Madrid coaches here watching you, and no matter what happens, you take something away from this experience.
Former soccer player and television commentator Clint Dempsey attends the CONCACAF Nations League Championship final between Panama and Mexico at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on March 23, 2025. (Omar Vega/Getty Images)
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“Just be here, let it [the players] “I know this is important and I’m proud of them for betting on themselves and putting in the effort to try something like this.”
In addition to Dempsey, Real Madrid legend Marcelo will also join this year’s Abbott Dream Team as a mentor.
Testing has already been done in Miami, Washington, DC and Houston, where Dempsey was on Wednesday morning. There are still tests scheduled for Kansas City (June 2), Los Angeles (June 4) and Chicago (June 9).
