From Bundesliga Bench to USMNT Breakthrough: The Surprising Rise That Caught Everyone's Attention
Gio Reyna has accumulated only 26 minutes of first-team action with Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2026. However, U.S. men's national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino considers him a "very special talent and very special player," looking ahead to March international exhibitions.
Although the 23-year-old hasn't featured consistently at club level since the 2022–23 campaign, his national squad views him as a potentially crucial asset for the 2026 World Cup, with matches against Belgium and Portugal scheduled this month in Atlanta.
His selection represents a departure from Pochettino's earlier emphasis on players maintaining good club form. While this exception doesn't extend to everyone, particularly Real Salt Lake's Diego Luna, who appeared prominently in World Cup promotional materials but was omitted from the roster, it provides Reyna another opportunity to secure his place on the team.
"[Reyna] is a very talented player," Pochettino stated. "We understand what he can bring to the national team ... And he has the ability to deliver for us. I believe providing this chance, despite limited club appearances, could prove very beneficial for us."
Following Reyna's earlier exclusion from the USMNT due to tensions involving himself, his father—USMNT icon Claudio Reyna—and former coach Gregg Berhalter, Pochettino has created a pathway back for Reyna's participation—particularly given the midfielder's youth.
During the autumn, Reyna found the net in the victory over Paraguay and provided an assist coming off the bench in a commanding 5–1 triumph against Uruguay, demonstrating his capacity to make meaningful contributions despite lacking club prominence.
"Gio was outstanding in November with us," Pochettino remarked. "I believe everyone commended his performance against Paraguay and his level of involvement and dedication to the national team. I was thoroughly pleased with every aspect of his participation."
While the English-born playmaker hasn't scored at club level with either Mönchengladbach or Borussia Dortmund in more than a year, he has shown energy in his 398 Bundesliga minutes this season. He battled a thigh problem and conditioning issues early in the campaign, but has remained an unused substitute with the senior squad since February.
With the USMNT this month, he will probably receive the chance to assume a pivotal role in the 3-5-2 formation, potentially partnering with fellow Bundesliga midfielder Malik Tillman and Vancouver Whitecaps' Sebastian Berhalter, son of Gregg Berhalter.
Pulisic's Form Not a Concern
Reyna isn't the sole underperforming club player joining the USMNT camp, as star forward Christian Pulisic enters without finding the net in his previous 11 outings with AC Milan.
The Serie A midfielder continues to receive consistent minutes despite dealing with various injuries, and his eight goals and two assists from earlier in the season have bolstered his statistics, even though recent productivity has been limited.
"I don't evaluate based on team or club performance," Pochettino commented this week regarding the 27-year-old, who missed the November international break due to an injury sustained against Australia in October.
"He's not finding the back of the net, but for me it's not solely about scoring," the manager continued. "I'm satisfied with his overall performance, his dedication to the squad, and his playing time. I think this presents an excellent opportunity for him to join us and contribute while helping him reach optimal condition for final roster consideration."
Pochettino is anticipated to announce his World Cup squad in May, aiming to select just 26 players for the final preparation matches against Germany and Senegal in June, before the June 12 World Cup kickoff versus Paraguay in Los Angeles.