Gio Reyna is on his second FIFA World Cup roster, once again reaffirming Mauricio Pochettino’s faith and confidence in his abilities.
Reyna was one of the 26 players named for Pochettino’s U.S. men’s national team squad for the upcoming competition on home soil. The 23-year-old may have endured a tough club campaign with German side Borussia Moenchengladbach, but it hasn’t stopped him from forcing his way back into the USMNT picture under the Argentine head coach.
Pochettino admitted that Reyna brings different elements to the squad, trusting him to make a difference in matches when called upon.
“I think we all know Gio has an amazing talent and experience, too,” Pochettino said during Tuesday’s press conference from New York. “And to play a non-official game or to play in different competition is not the same as to play in the World Cup. [But] I think we need to trust the players that have experience and I think that is really important.
“[Reyna] can add different things to the team. He has the quality,” he added. “I think he has characteristics [that are] different and I think I really trust [him], okay? I like trusting everyone. But I really trust in him and try to give him the confidence.”
Reyna’s club career has hit a dip over the last three seasons with the attacking midfielder tallying three goals and two assists in 70 appearances. He scored just once in 20 appearances for Gladbach in the Bundesliga this campaign, ending his lengthy goal-less drought and starting just five times under Eugen Polanski.
His international form has improved though with Reyna scoring in a 2-1 friendly win over Paraguay last November while also assisting once in a 5-1 rout of Uruguay to close 2025. Reyna also made a pair of cameos in a pair of March defeats to Portugal and Belgium, taking his caps up to 36 for the program.
After fighting off exclusions such as Diego Luna, Aidan Morris, and Tanner Tessmann, Reyna is focused on doing whatever he can to contribute this summer.
“It’s a country now that has a lot of competition, a lot of talent, so it wasn’t easy for anyone to make it,” Reyna told media on Tuesday. “Of course I’m happy to be here, but at the same time, I obviously want to help the team any way possible. So it’s more just appreciative for another opportunity to represent.”
The USMNT will take on Paraguay, Australia, and Turkey in Group D of the World Cup, pitting the Americans against three teams that are ranked in the Top-40 of FIFA’s rankings. Following a pair of winless results to start the year, the USMNT will be aiming to make a deep run in the tournament, building off of a Round of 16 berth in the 2022 edition.
Whether Reyna forces his way into Pochettino’s starting lineup or is used as an impact substitute remains to be seen, but either way, he is an option that has the backing of his head coach.
“I don’t say that he’s going to play [every] game, but he can help,” Pochettino said. “He can help because he’s a different player, different talent. And I think in all the roster, you need to have a player like him. That is why I think I really believe that he can be in a situation that can help in different aspects of the game.”