USMNT Dealt Crushing Blow as Gio Reyna Strikes Out With Major Injury Days Before November Window

U.S. men's national team standout midfielder Gio Reyna picked up an injury on Friday afternoon, wincing in pain as he waved for a substitution in the 70th minute of Strasbourg's regular season clash against French Ligue 1 side Toulouse. He will be sidelined for the upcoming November international window, with Mauricio Pochettino's squad set to regroup stateside on Monday ahead of Concacaf Nations League action.

Reyna went through a turbulent sequence. Just three minutes before his injury, the 23-year-old had surged into the attacking third, battling several Toulouse defenders and thick fog to link up with a Strasbourg teammate in a quick one-two exchange. Reyna was perfectly positioned when a struggling Toulouse midfielder misplayed a pass directly into the penalty area. The American latched onto it and slotted a straightforward shot into the goal.

It appeared to be exactly the boost the visiting side needed, cutting their deficit at Stadium de Toulouse in half. Reyna looked untroubled immediately after scoring his third goal of the season, jogging back to the center circle with the ball in hand to celebrate. However, he was soon overcome by discomfort, grabbing his thigh and gesturing to the bench for a change.

Reyna has a track record of muscular issues, particularly in his thigh. He missed three matches in fall 2025 with a thigh problem, before being struck by further muscular setbacks in January and February. He sat out five games for Borussia Mönchengladbach to begin the year.

Toulouse ultimately claimed a 3–1 victory to wrap up play before the 10-day November international break; however, Reyna faces far more pressing concerns of his own.

Pochettino Forced to Go Without Favorite Player

The extent of Reyna's injury and his expected recovery timeline remain uncertain; however, his lengthy history of physical setbacks offers little cause for optimism.

Pochettino announced his 25-man November squad on Wednesday, selecting the finest American talent capable of handling Haiti in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal two-legged tie later this month. Reyna's inclusion on the list was never in question.

The midfielder has become a clear favorite of Pochettino's across both the flanks and the center of midfield, described as a "very special talent" by the 54-year-old. It was precisely the bold creativity Reyna showcased against Toulouse that has won over Pochettino and earned him a surprise call-up to the 2026 World Cup.

He went on to start all four friendlies during last month's extended international window, the only USMNT player to achieve that feat. The team emerged victorious in all four games, including against fierce rivals Mexico and Canada, sparking a flawless post-World Cup era driven in large part by Reyna's impact.

He is also experiencing a career-best run at club level. After spending much of last season on the bench at Gladbach, Reyna has finally established himself as a key starter in France. Just three months into the new campaign, he already has eight league starts to his name, the most he has accumulated at any club since 2021. His three league goals are already his highest tally since the 2022–23 Bundesliga season with Borussia Dortmund.

Who Will Replace Reyna on the USMNT Roster?

Pochettino had already been forced to make one injury-related change to his November roster, swapping out West Bromwich Albion center back George Campbell for Toulouse center back Mark McKenzie—who coincidentally also got on the scoresheet in Friday's match against Strasbourg, just 11 minutes before Reyna's goal. Campbell sustained a groin injury in Tuesday's EFL Championship fixture against Southampton and is not expected to recover in time for the international break.

The USMNT boss has now made a second adjustment, bringing in 23-year-old winger Jack McGlynn to fill Reyna's spot. Since departing Houston Dynamo and making his move to Europe this summer, the Stoke City player has shifted into a higher gear entirely. The starting right winger already leads his team with five goals in 11 EFL Championship appearances, netting in each of the past three matches to propel Stoke up the table and into a share of first place. His most recent strike came on Saturday in a 2–1 victory over Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

McGlynn has earned 13 caps for the USMNT and played a key role in the team's run to the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup final; however, he was left out of Pochettino's World Cup squad this past summer.