Landon Donovan warns ‘magic making’ USMNT superstars could be overlooked in wild World Cup roster race

US Men’s National Team coach Mauricio Pochettino is just weeks away from announcing his official roster for the 2026 World Cup.

All eyes will be on the Stars and Stripes as soccer’s greatest tournament unfolds on home soil.

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For 26 players, making the much-debated USMNT roster this summer will mark the pinnacle.

But plenty from the pool will miss out.

Two ‘superstar’ talents at risk of USMNT heartache

Pochettino, whose own future is in doubt beyond this summer, will need to get his balance right and select a roster with both strong defensive foundation, and attacking prowess.

And according to USMNT legend Landon Donovan, two players with ‘superstar quality’ could fail to make the cut, for the good of the group.

Speaking on his Unfiltered Soccer podcast, the 157-cap legend admitted he would have reservations about calling up Gio Reyna and Diego Luna, despite the fact both are potential game-changing talents.

Reyna hasn’t stated for his German club, Borussia Monchengladbach, in 2026.

Since the turn of the year, he has only featured as a substitute in six Bundesliga games, racking up just 82 minutes of action.

That’s certainly not the kind of form usually required for a coveted World Cup roster spot.

“This is the way I see it — if it’s a 23-man roster, Gio doesn’t make it,” Donovan said this week.

“I think because it’s 26, you can add a player, two or three, who has a superstar quality.

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“And sometimes that means just being an amazing teammate, great in training, help the whole group get better. Sometimes it means a guy who just does something special.

“Gio can do something special.

“My caveat with Gio is, if I’m Pochettino, I go to him and say, ‘Gio, there is every chance you don’t play one minute this summer. Every chance. There’s a chance you play a lot of minutes.

“‘But whatever happens, I need to know you are going to be a good teammate on board. Keep your mouth shut. Keep working and help the group.

“‘If you’re willing to do that, I’m bringing you. And if you tell me you’re willing to do it and you don’t do it at some point in the tournament, I’m sending you home.’

“That’s it. If you do that and he’s on board with that, he’s worth having.

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“If you need a goal in the last 20 minutes, it’s 0-0 against Australia. Throw him on. No problem.”

Gio Reyna and Diego Luna can provide ‘spice’ USMNT needs

Tim Howard, a former USMNT goalkeeper who made the roster for three World Cups, agreed with Donovan’s assessment.

“You know, the other thing that I think Gio doesn’t get enough credit for, he’s got some spice and bite, man,” Howard said.

“I just wonder if there’s a moment where Poch gets fed up in like the 60th minute and just goes, ‘I need someone on the pitch who’s willing to just be a dog and fight.’

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“And obviously he’s very good talent wise, taking the ball.”

Howard’s comment then sparked Donovan to name Luna as the second ‘superstar’ talent who risks missing out this summer.

“Again, superstar quality,” he said of the 22-year-old.

“You can debate what that is with Luna, but he’s a guy who has that nastiness.

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“And so, will he go in and just mix it up and do something special and crazy that can create a moment?

“Yeah. It’s worth having.”

The decision, of course, falls to Pochettino.

But in Reyna and Luna, he has two potential game-winning players.

Both will find out in a matter of weeks if they’ve done enough to make the 26-man roster alongside the likes of Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Folarin Balogun, who are all expected to get a spot.

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