Clint Dempsey had the honor of representing the United States in three World Cups, and there were likely times during all three where questions about the roster came about once it was revealed before the tournament.The same goes for this year’s 2026 USMNT squad, which had their official roster reveal Tuesday in Manhattan. The spectacle not only confirmed previous reports about what the squad would look like, but manager Mauricio Pochettino’s first World Cup team led to some defense from the coach already.Dempsey, speaking to Fox News Digital while highlighting his work as a mentor for the “Abbott Dream Team,” a program from global health leader Abbott and soccer club Real Madrid, admitted this USMNT roster comes with some surprise.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM”There’s definitely some surprises,” he said. “It looks like we do have a defensive-heavy roster, especially in that right back position. But look, I’m not the one selecting this team. I still think this team can perform really well, but you’re going to need some big performances from people like Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic and [Falorin] Balogun. Not to say there’s no other forwards that can contribute and other players, but to me, those players jump off the roster to me.”Dempsey pointed at two players others were shocked to see left out — Diego Luna and Tanner Tessman – who he said you naturally “feel bad” for. However, Dempsey isn’t going to discredit what others who made their first World Cup roster bring to the table.USMNT ROSTER TAKES SHAPE UNDER MAURICIO POCHETTINO AS US PREPARES TO HOST WORLD CUP: REPORTS”You look at other players that got in. Shoutout to [Alex] Zendejas, how well he’s played at Club América. That left foot he has, his finishing abilities, but also his ability to assist and whip in balls with that left foot. He scored a really good goal against Japan in one of their friendlies.”I think a surprise for some people may be Gio [Reyna], but if you look at his form with the national team, it’s up there at the top in terms of his production rate and what he gives to this team.”It’s rare that the roster will change ahead of FIFA’s June 1 deadline, meaning this is the 26-man squad that Pochettino believes in, and this will be the group that has the privilege of representing their country on home soil during the World Cup.Dempsey said he used to pray before bed as a kid that he got to wear the Stars and Stripes on his jersey in a World Cup, and he was able to do so more than once. But to play in front of your home country, Dempsey is now praying that the team gets off to a hot start against Paraguay to kick off their Group D play on June 12 in Los Angeles.”I just think get off to a good start, get the fan base behind them like what you saw in the Winter Olympics with the men’s and women’s hockey teams. I’m sure there are other examples I could draw from, but to me, that’
Clint Dempsey admits USMNT roster has ‘some surprises,’ but explains optimistic mindset about World Cup squad
