Mauricio Pochettino named Gio Reyna on the U.S. squad for the World Cup after a brief but bright spell at Borussia Mönchengladbach. The 21‑year‑old logged just 137 minutes and scored once in the first half of the year, yet his November form earned him a spot ahead of the tournament.

Reyna's November highlights include a goal in a 2‑1 win against Paraguay and an assist in a 5‑1 rout of Uruguay. Pochettino praised his “fantastic” display, noting that experience and trust are vital when stepping onto the biggest stage. The coach also stressed that Reyna’s versatility could spark late‑game changes for the U.S.

Despite limited club minutes, Pochettino trusts Reyna’s ability to contribute off the bench, saying he “can help” in different phases of play. The decision follows a rocky 2022 outing where the player was almost left on the sidelines by former coach Gregg Berhalter, a dispute that spilled into the media and subsequent public backlash.

The U.S. opens the tournament against Paraguay in Inglewood on June 12, then faces Australia in Seattle and Turkey at SoFi Stadium. Warm‑up matches against Senegal in Charlotte and Germany in Chicago precede the group stage. Reyna’s inclusion signals Pochettino’s willingness to mix youth and experience as the nation seeks a deeper run in a bid to surpass last year’s exit and.