Why Gio Reyna Deserves a Spot on the USMNT World Cup Roster Despite Club Woes

At just 23, Gio Reyna has already lived a football lifetime. The son of US legend Claudio Reyna burst onto the scene at Borussia Dortmund, but injuries and inconsistency have haunted his club career. From Dortmund to Nottingham Forest and now Gladbach, he has rarely found stability at the professional level.

Yet when Reyna pulls on the USMNT jersey, something changes. He was the architect of the 2023 Nations League final win over Canada, setting up both goals. A year later, he scored against Mexico in the same final. Even in friendlies against Germany and Uruguay, his creativity stood out when others struggled.

Conventional wisdom says club form matters most for World Cup selection. But Reyna is the exception. His international performances consistently eclipse his club output, offering a spark that no other American player provides. For a tournament decided by fine margins, that impact off the bench could be decisive.

Mauricio Pochettino must weigh the past — including Reyna's 2022 Qatar drama — against his undeniable talent. With a unique skill set and a history of rising to the occasion for the US, leaving him home would ignore the evidence. Reyna deserves his place on the 2026 roster.