Mauricio Pochettino just made the biggest bet of his early United States Men's National Team tenure. By naming Giovanni Reyna to the 26-man roster for the upcoming World Cup, Pochettino chose pure, unadulterated talent over cold, hard data.
Let's look at the numbers. They aren't pretty. Reyna has managed just eight Bundesliga appearances as a substitute for Borussia Mönchengladbach since the turn of the year. He played a meager 520 minutes across the entire club season. In the ruthless world of international soccer, those stats usually get you a couch ticket to watch the tournament on TV. Read more on a similar subject: this related article.
Instead, Reyna is heading to Los Angeles for the Group D opener against Paraguay on June 12.
The decision has polarized fans and pundits. Former USMNT defender Jimmy Conrad openly questioned whether Reyna earned this spot on merit or name recognition. It's a fair debate. But Pochettino isn't looking at what Reyna did in January or February. He's looking at what Reyna can do in a single, magical moment against a low-block defense. More journalism by CBS Sports highlights similar perspectives on the subject.
The Ghost of Doha
You can't talk about Gio Reyna without talking about Qatar. Four years ago, the midfielder was nearly boarded on a flight home from Doha. Gregg Berhalter, the manager at the time, was ready to cut him loose due to a perceived lack of effort in training after Reyna learned he wouldn't be a primary starter.
What followed was a dark soap opera that threatened to tear American soccer apart. Reyna's parents leaked decades-old personal information about Berhalter to US Soccer executives. It sparked an investigation, a temporary coaching vacuum, and a permanent stain on how that generation of players was perceived.
Honestly, it felt like a classic case of an entitled sports family exploding a locker room.
But that was a 20-year-old kid. Today, Reyna is 23. He has spent the last few years navigating the brutal realities of European club football, dealing with persistent hamstring issues, and fighting for scraps of playing time in Germany. The drama is old news to the guy currently running the team. Pochettino didn't live through the Doha civil war. He doesn't care about the baggage. He cares about the soccer.
Why Form Doesn't Matter for Tournament Football
The loudest critics of Reyna's inclusion point to his lack of rhythm. It's a valid concern. Soccer players need game minutes to sharp-tune their decision-making and physical conditioning.
But international tournaments are a completely different beast than a grueling 34-game league season. They're short, intense, and highly tactical sprint sessions.
Pochettino is smart enough to know that the USMNT lacks creative profiles. Christian Pulisic is a world-class winger who thrives on directness and speed. Weston McKennie provides box-to-box energy. Tyler Adams is the defensive anchor. Who pulls the strings in the half-spaces when a team like Paraguay parks ten men behind the ball?
That is the Gio Reyna zone.
He possesses a rare soccer IQ that allows him to spot passing lanes before they develop. He plays with a distinct swagger, a belief that he is the most talented player on the pitch. Even during limited cameos in March friendlies against Belgium and Portugal, Reyna showed flashes of that elite vision. He changes the tempo of an attack with a single touch.
Pochettino has repeatedly singled Reyna out as a player he values regardless of club form. That's a massive vote of confidence from a manager who has coached elite creators like Neymar and Christian Eriksen.
The Casualties of Pochettino's Gamble
Every roster selection is a zero-sum game. By carving out a spot for an under-played Reyna, Pochettino had to make some brutal phone calls.
The most shocking omission is Real Salt Lake's Diego Luna. The 22-year-old has been on fire in Major League Soccer, racking up four goals and two assists since April. He was heavily featured in the World Cup promotional campaigns. He represents the exact opposite of Reyna right now: fit, confident, and playing every single weekend.
Then there's Lyon's Tanner Tessmann, who missed out despite a solid season in France, though a recent muscle strain might have simplified that choice for the coaching staff.
Pochettino chose a luxury asset over an in-form worker. It's a massive risk. If the USA struggles to break down opponents and Reyna looks sluggish or gets injured in the first 20 minutes, the knives will come out for the Argentine manager.
The Bizarre Subplot on the Roster
To make this storyline even wilder, look at who else made the 26-man roster: Sebastian Berhalter.
The 25-year-old Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder forced his way into the squad after an MLS Best XI season. He earned his spot. He is also the son of Gregg Berhalter.
Think about that. Four years after the Reyna and Berhalter families engaged in a scorched-earth public feud, Gio Reyna and Sebastian Berhalter will share a locker room, fly on the same planes, and wear the same jersey at a home World Cup.
It sounds like a bad movie script. But soccer locker rooms are professional workplaces. Both players have stayed quiet, focused on their club careers, and avoided the media circus. If Team USA wants to make a deep run past the quarterfinals—a feat they haven't achieved in the modern era—they'll need both of these guys pulling in the same direction.
The Blueprint for Success in June
Reyna isn't going to be asked to play 90 minutes every three days. Pochettino will likely use him as a tactical weapon.
If the USMNT starts games with a high-pressing, energetic midfield of Adams, McKennie, and perhaps Malik Tillman, Reyna becomes the ultimate closing pitcher. Imagine bringing on a fresh Gio Reyna in the 65th minute against tired opposition legs. His ability to draw fouls, retain possession under pressure, and slide perfectly weighted balls to Pulisic or Folarin Balogun could be devastating.
The pressure on this team is immense. Hosting a World Cup changes everything. The expectations aren't just about advancing from the group; it's about capturing the imagination of a nation.
Reyna has the perfect opportunity to rewrite his national team legacy. The 2022 tournament was defined by his maturity issues. The 2026 tournament can be defined by his football. Pochettino gave him the platform. Now the midfielder has to prove his manager right.
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