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United States men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino will announce his full 26-man World Cup roster on May 26 and he will be forced to make some tough decisions.
United States and Seattle Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan, selected for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, joined First Things First to discuss his feelings ahead of Pochettino’s final decision next month.
“There’s a lot of pressure,” Roldan said on Wednesday’s edition of “First Things First.” “I feel like this time around I feel like I have a lot more to lose, just because I’ve racked up a few more starts with the national team over the last six months. I’m impatient, I’m excited, I’m anxious, I’m ready for it to start and I hope to give myself the best chance to be a part of this team.”
Roldan has quickly become one of Pochettino’s favourites, playing in eight of the USA’s last ten matches and starting three. After the United States’ 2-1 win over Australia in October, in which Roldan recorded two assists, Pochettino called the 30-year-old midfielder the “perfect player.”
“[It’s] “It’s humbling,” Roldan said. “He’s coached Messi, Neymar, Mbappé, they’re world-class players. It’s a humbling experience… Overall, I’m just proud to be part of the team right now, to have the opportunity to go to the World Cup. When he says something like that, it definitely helps your cause.”
The roster reveal will air live on FOX at 3 p.m. ET on May 26. The 2026 World Cup will begin on June 11.
FIFA World Cup 2026: how to watch
The World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The 104 matches of the tournament will be broadcast live on FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every game broadcast live and on demand in the FOX One and FOX Sports apps. A record 40 games, more than a third of the tournament, will be broadcast in prime time on FOX (21) and FS1 (19).
