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Clint Dempsey had nan grant of representing nan United States successful 3 World Cups, and location were apt times during each 3 wherever questions astir nan roster came astir erstwhile it was revealed earlier nan tournament.
The aforesaid goes for this year’s 2026 USMNT squad, which had their official roster uncover Tuesday successful Manhattan. The spectacle not only confirmed erstwhile reports astir what nan squad would look like, but head Mauricio Pochettino’s first World Cup squad led to immoderate defense from nan coach already.
Dempsey, speaking to Fox News Digital while highlighting his activity arsenic a mentor for world wellness leader Abbott’s Dream Team alongside Real Madrid, admitted this USMNT roster comes pinch immoderate surprise.
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Clint Dempsey looks connected earlier nan Concacaf Nations League semifinal lucifer betwixt nan United States and Panama astatine SoFi Stadium successful Inglewood, Calif., connected March 20, 2025. (Omar Vega/Getty Images)
"There’s decidedly immoderate surprises," he said. "It looks for illustration we do person a defensive-heavy roster, particularly successful that correct backmost position. But look, I’m not nan 1 selecting this team. I still deliberation this squad tin execute really well, but you’re going to request immoderate large performances from group for illustration Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic and [Falorin] Balogun. Not to opportunity there’s nary different forwards that tin lend and different players, but to me, those players jump disconnected nan roster to me."
Dempsey pointed astatine 2 players others were shocked to spot near retired -- Diego Luna and Tanner Tessman – who he said you people "feel bad" for. However, Dempsey isn’t going to discredit what others who made their first World Cup roster bring to nan table.
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"You look astatine different players that sewage in. Shoutout to [Alex] Zendejas, really good he’s played astatine Club América. That near ft he has, his finishing abilities, but besides his expertise to assistance and whip successful balls pinch that near foot. He scored a really bully extremity against Japan successful 1 of their friendlies.
"I deliberation a astonishment for immoderate group whitethorn beryllium Gio [Reyna], but if you look astatine his shape pinch nan nationalist team, it’s up location astatine nan apical successful position of his accumulation complaint and what he gives to this team."
It’s uncommon that nan roster will alteration up of FIFA’s June 1 deadline, meaning this is nan 26-man squad that Pochettino believes in, and this will beryllium nan group that has nan privilege of representing their state connected location ungraded during nan World Cup.
The U.S. Men's National Team poses during nan announcement of nan 2026 World Cup roster successful New York connected May 26, 2026. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP)
Dempsey said he utilized to believe earlier furniture arsenic a kid that he sewage to deterioration nan Stars and Stripes connected his jersey successful a World Cup, and he was capable to do truthful much than once. But to play successful beforehand of your location country, Dempsey is now praying that nan squad gets disconnected to a basking commencement against Paraguay to footwear disconnected their Group D play connected June 12 successful Los Angeles.
"I conscionable deliberation get disconnected to a bully start, get nan instrumentality guidelines down them for illustration what you saw successful nan Winter Olympics pinch nan men’s and women’s lucky teams. I’m judge location are different examples I could tie from, but to me, that’s thing that I decidedly noticed from nan extracurricular looking in. Hopefully that’s thing they tin link pinch these fans and create that 12th man. That’s what’s request to push you on successful large moments," he said.
THE ABBOTT DREAM TEAM
For nan 2nd consecutive year, Dempsey is helping Abbott and Real Madrid pinch nan "Abbott Dream Team," a programme encouraging young shot players aged 18-19 passim nan U.S. to participate successful a once-in-a-lifetime improvement acquisition pinch 1 of nan champion shot clubs successful nan world successful Madrid.
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Selected participants will beryllium training pinch Real Madrid’s coaches astatine nan team’s facilities, while bask unsocial experiences for illustration attending a lucifer astatine Bernabéu Stadium and gathering immoderate squad legends. Real Madrid’s aesculapian squad will besides proceed providing those players pinch nan latest advancements successful sports wellness and nutrition, helping them amended understand their bodies, build healthier habits and scope their highest capacity connected and disconnected nan pitch.
"It’s awesome, man. Any clip you tin springiness backmost and springiness kids nan opportunity to pursuit their dreams, that’s what it’s each about," Dempsey said astir his domiciled successful this. "I person kids of my own, and that’s what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to thief them execute their dreams, return them to each their shot practices, and springiness them nan champion chance imaginable to do thing great. This is 1 of those things wherever you person a tryout, you person Real Madrid coaches present watching you, and nary matter what, you return thing distant from this experience.
Former shot subordinate and TV pundit Clint Dempsey attends nan CONCACAF Nations League Championship Final betwixt Panama and Mexico astatine SoFi Stadium successful Inglewood, Calif., connected March 23, 2025. (Omar Vega/Getty Images)
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"Just being here, letting [the players] cognize this is important, and I’m proud of them for betting connected themselves and putting themselves retired location to moreover effort retired for thing for illustration this."
Other than Dempsey, Real Madrid fable Marcelo will besides subordinate this year’s Abbott Dream Team arsenic a mentor.
Tryouts person already taken spot successful Miami, Washington, D.C. and Houston, wherever Dempsey was connected Wednesday morning. There are still tryouts group for Kansas City (June 2), Los Angeles (June 4) and Chicago (June 9).
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Scott Thompson is simply a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
