ไทย
English
中國人
Giovanni Reyna has had a tough stretch over the past few years, yet he remains firmly in the running to suit up for the U.S. men's national team at the 2026 World Cup — an opportunity he describes as "a dream come true."
At 22 years old, the once-heralded USMNT prodigy is battling for a place in manager Mauricio Pochettino's final 26-man squad. With fewer than four weeks remaining before the Argentine coach announces his selections, Reyna spoke openly about his desire to compete in his second World Cup.
"[The World Cup] is on everyone's mind," Reyna told reporters during a media session on May 12, via Bulinews. "No spot is guaranteed or safe. It's simple: I want to be there. It's a World Cup in your home country. It's obvious that you think about it pretty often.
"I try not to let it take over my day and stress me out too much, but it's in the back of my mind, like I'm sure it is for many other players. I want to be there, I want to represent my country, and I want to give everything to the team. That's all I can really say.
"This team [USMNT] means a lot to me. I've had very good moments with this team over the last couple of years. So I'd love to be there and to have an impact. It would be a dream to represent my country at the World Cup."
Gio Reyna: World Cup Call-Up is 'Not in My Hands'
It's been nearly four years since Reyna found himself at the center of a controversy with then-USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter over his limited playing time at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Looking back, Reyna acknowledged he took valuable lessons from that episode, though he's eager to play a far bigger role in 2026.
Reyna also spoke warmly about his rapport with Pochettino, who has referred to him as a "very special talent and very special player." The midfielder has appeared in each of the USMNT's last four matches under the Argentine boss — the man who will ultimately determine whether Reyna gets to wear the Stars and Stripes this summer.
When pressed on whether he feels he merits a roster spot, Reyna chose to let his play speak for itself and leave the final call to Pochettino.
"If I say no, I'm not backing myself, and if I say yes, it's arrogant," Reyna said. "So it's a hard question to answer. I love the staff, I love the players, and I love the national team. Whatever happens, happens.
"I'm really hoping and wanting to be there to make an impact and achieve something great with the team, but the decision is out of my hands. I'm just hoping and waiting for the call-up, which would be an honor."
Closing out the season strongly with Borussia Mönchengladbach could prove decisive in shaping Reyna's 2026 World Cup prospects, though his debut campaign with the German side has been far from straightforward.
Giovanni Reyna Reflects on Difficult Season
Muscle problems have plagued Reyna ever since he made the move to Mönchengladbach from Borussia Dortmund last summer. Between injury setbacks and struggles to consistently perform at his best, Reyna has managed just 19 appearances this season, with only four Bundesliga starts and a little over 500 minutes logged across all competitions.
"I obviously came here to play more," Reyna admitted candidly. "Of course, being injured sucks. You never want to be injured. But I try to take what I can from each injury. I've been a bit unlucky at times with the length of the injuries and the timing also, but I'm feeling good now, doing all I can 24 hours a day to stay fit and give it my all in training."
The attacking midfielder has now featured in four straight matches for Mönchengladbach — his longest consecutive run since the start of 2026. The 32 minutes he logged in his most recent outing were his most in a single game since Dec. 19, and despite the match ending in a 3–1 loss, he netted his first goal for the club.
"The last couple of weeks have been very good for me to get more minutes, and I felt like I had some good performances," Reyna said. "I feel ready to play 90 minutes and feel that I can give my max at this moment in time. So I guess you could say 100 percent. I feel very, very fit and sharp."
Just one fixture remains in Borussia Mönchengladbach's campaign, giving Reyna one last chance to make his case to Pochettino. Nevertheless, the creative midfielder is optimistic about what lies ahead.
"The season's coming to an end now," Reyna said. "So hopefully we can just finish off with one more good game this weekend, both as a team and me individually. I hope to go to the World Cup and continue with the form I'm building on."