Gio Reyna can finally celebrate a goal after a long 16 months without finding the net, but he’s still not willing to address speculation about his inclusion in the USMNT squad for the World Cup.
The American midfielder found the back of the net for Borussia Moenchengladbach in a Bundesliga fixture against Augsburg just weeks before Mauricio Pochettino is set to announce his roster for the 2026 World Cup.
A long time coming
The 23-year-old attacker’s barren run finally ended on Saturday after he received a well-placed pass from Rocco Reitz before firing it into the bottom corner. Despite a 3-1 defeat to Augsburg, it was a milestone moment for the midfielder, who has endured a difficult spell.
It was the first goal of his loan spell with the German side, and his first in a competitive match for club since January 2025 when he was still with Borussia Dortmund. “It’s been a while but I’m just happy to finally score,” Reyna told reporters on Tuesday. “The result doesn’t mean much but I’m happy to get good minutes and I thought I played okay for my team.”
World Cup selection questions
With the USMNT roster for the World Cup set to be announced on May 26, Reyna was asked if he feels he has done enough to make the squad. “It’s hard to answer,” the former Dortmund player said, keenly aware of how any answer would be interpreted by both the general public and his new national team manager, Mauricio Pochettino.
He added: “If I say I haven’t, I’m not backing myself and if I say I have, I’m arrogant and it’s like I think I deserve to be there. “I love the staff and I love the players and I love the national team. Whatever happens, happens, but I really hope to be there to try and help and win something. But it’s out of my hands.”
History of injuries
A lack of game time and history of injuries have hindered Reyna. He hasn’t completed a full 90 minutes in a league game for over four years and since joining Gladbach, has been consistently brought on as a substitute rather than a starter.
No matter his minutes at club level, the midfielder remains a vital component of the national team setup. Continuing in the footsteps of his father Claudio Reyna, who captained the U.S. In two World Cups, the youngster insisted it would be “an honor” to be selected.
Past tournament dramas
The 2026 World Cup is the latest opportunity for Reyna to overcome his past tournament misfortunes. His appearance in Qatar was tainted by a fallout with former coach Gregg Berhalter, and he was restricted to minimal playing time. Reyna previously revealed the World Cup was his “ultimate goal” when he sealed his move to Gladbach.
“Frustration and disappointment” are terms he’s familiar with but he insists that he wants his next World Cup experience to be defined by his performance on the field, and not off-field drama.
