Cristian Roldan has been named to the United States’ World Cup roster, according to a report by The Guardian, which says it has obtained the full 26-player roster. Assuming the report is accurate, Roldan would become the first active Sounders player to make two World Cup rosters after previously being named to the 2022 USA team. Somewhat improbably, he would also be one of just 12 players who also made the 2022 roster and the only player from MLS to have pulled that double.
Charles Boehm
In 2022, Roldan was one of four outfield players not to get on the field at the World Cup. But this roster's makeup all but assures he’ll see some playing time this year. Tyler Adams is the only other player on the roster who has been deployed primarily as a 6, and the only other 8s on the roster are Sebastian Berhalter and Weston McKennie.
The United States will play two group stage games in Los Angeles (June 12 vs. Paraguay and June 25 vs. Turkiye) and Seattle (June 19 vs. Australia). That means that if Roldan plays, he would almost certainly do so either in Southern California where he grew up or in Seattle where he’s played since he was 18.
Among the most notable names left off the roster is Diego Luna, who, like Roldan, had seemingly won over manager Mauricio Pochettino with his workmanlike play. Luna has made 16 appearances under Pochettino, but was likely hurt by injuries that have kept him off the roster for all of 2026. The other most notable omission was likely Tanner Tessman, who had also been a regular under Pochettino and was even seen as a potential starter. But a recent injury may have cast sufficient doubt on his health.
