Poch Makes Exception for…

U.S. national team manager Mauricio Pochettino praised Gio Reyna as a “very special talent,” which influenced his decision to include the young midfielder in the roster for upcoming friendlies against Belgium and Portugal, despite Reyna’s limited playing time with Borussia Monchengladbach.

Since the beginning of 2026, Reyna has only played a total of 26 minutes and has been sidelined for the past two months due to a muscle injury. However, Pochettino was impressed by Reyna’s performance during the November international window, where he netted the opening goal in a 2-1 victory over Paraguay and contributed an assist in a 5-1 win against Uruguay.

“I think Gio was fantastic in November with us,” Pochettino remarked during a videoconference with reporters following the announcement of the U.S. squad. “Everyone praised him in his game against Paraguay, and he showed great commitment to the team.”

Recognizing that this window is the last chance to evaluate players before announcing the World Cup roster in May, Pochettino expressed his desire to see Reyna’s current form. “Before making the final decision regarding the World Cup roster, it’s important to assess players who may not have been seeing much action, like Gio. He possesses immense talent and we know how much he can contribute to the national team.”

Pochettino emphasized recognizing the unique contributions of each player. “Bringing in a player is an art,” he said. “Each player is different and offers different assets to the team. We shouldn’t apply the same criteria to every situation.”

“What matters most is what a player can bring to the team, and that’s why our selection process varies for each individual. It’s essential to identify the right players who can perform and replicate our previous successes.”

Both matches will be held in Atlanta, with the U.S. facing Belgium on March 28 and Portugal on March 31.