Top five players left out of USA's FIFA World Cup 2026 final squad ft. Tessmann & Luna

Tanner Tessmann and Diego Luna are surprisingly excluded from the USA World Cup squad.

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup gears up for the ultimate showdown, nations have begun announcing their official 26-member squads for the competition. While the squads of the tournament favourites are largely predictable, fans are eagerly awaiting the teams of some of the dark horses for this edition.

With a record 48 teams participating in the World Cup this year, each squad will be aiming to achieve the ultimate glory.

The tournament co-hosts, the United States national team, have announced the final squad for the World Cup. Manager Mauricio Pochettino’s side will be aiming to make a mark after being eliminated in the Round of 16 in the previous edition.

The USA squad is stacked with quality players across all positions. Despite most of the key players ultimately making the final 26-member squad, fans were surprised to witness some of the team’s crucial players missing the call-up for the World Cup on their home soil.

Top five USA (USMNT) players who missed the World Cup call-up

Order	Player Name	Club
5	Yunus Musah	Atalanta
4	Walker Zimmerman	Toronto FC
3	Aidan Morris	Middlesbrough
2	Tanner Tessmann	Lyon
1	Diego Luna	Real Salt Lake

Also read: Top five players left out of Morocco’s FIFA World Cup 2026 final squad ft. En-Nesyri & Ziyech

5. Yunus Musah (Atalanta)

The 23-year-old midfielder was excluded from the final squad after having a limited role under the manager. Despite the player being one of the vastly experienced members of the side, Pochettino ultimately snubbed the youngster. Yunus Musah scored the first goal for the USA under the new manager’s regime in a 2-0 win over Panama in October 2024.

Also read: Panama announce final squad for FIFA World Cup 2026 ft. José Córdoba

However, the lack of playing time in Atalanta and his decision to opt out of the 2024 CONCACAF Gold Cup compelled the manager to move on with other midfield options.

4. Walker Zimmerman (Toronto FC)

One of the USA’s key players during the 2022 World Cup, Walker Zimmerman, was not selected for the newest edition. After being out of the national team since 2022, Pochettino recalled the defender to the side, making four appearances under the manager. The decision was tied to tactical preferences, with the coach preferring young talents and defenders who could build up from the back.

Meanwhile, Zimmerman prioritises a “no-nonsense” style of play.

3. Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough)

Aidan Morris is another player who missed the call-up despite featuring regularly for the manager before the squad announcement. He was utilised as a defensive midfielder and has been making regular appearances for the national team. Morris had a strong season for Middlesbrough, being a regular starter for the side.

His exclusion has drawn criticism, with the manager preferring veteran experience, selecting 31-year-old Cristian Roldan.

2. Tanner Tessmann (Lyon)

The Lyon midfielder was exempted from the World Cup squad despite making regular appearances under the manager. The decision was considered surprising. Tessmann was expected to be in the team after featuring in high-profile friendlies against Belgium and Portugal in March 2026.

The player’s exclusion is believed to be due to fitness concerns. Tessmann suffered a muscle strain in May 2026.

1. Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake)

The most shocking exclusion from the final USA roster was the 22-year-old attacker Diego Luna. He has been one of the mainstays in the national team, playing 948 minutes for the side. That is more than the USA captain, Christian Pulisic.

Despite a strong domestic season, the youngster was replaced by Giovanni Reyna, a player who has been struggling for minutes at the club level. The manager prioritised international pedigree over domestic form.

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