Former USMNT stars such as Landon Donovan, Alexi Lalas and others have spent much of the World Cup buildup emphasizing accountability, professionalism, and the responsibility that comes with wearing the national team shirt. Donovan recently spoke about the need for this generation to build on defining moments by embracing the pressure of a home World Cup rather than fearing it.
Reyna’s challenge isn’t proving he belongs on the roster. Mauricio Pochettino has already taken this decision. The challenge is proving that he can be trusted. That distinction matters to Hall of Famers who paved a unique, lonely path. Being an American in the 1990s required maturity as well as patience.
Unfortunately, the shadow of the 2022 World Cup controversy has been following Reyna for almost four years. His lack of intensity in training and frustration with playing time became one of the defining stories of the tournament. Reyna eventually apologized to his teammates after internal concerns reached a boiling point. Since then, every discussion about Reyna has included some variation of the same maturity questions.
USMNT, Gio Reyna is right
Even Reyna seems tired of answering this. The midfielder recently said that he has moved on from the experience and wants to focus on the present rather than old controversies. The good news for Reyna is that earning respect from critics is much simpler than winning a debate.
Knowing he can never win a press conference in this environment, Reyna just needs to win the minutes. A moment of brilliance and a kiss of the badge that would make every USMNT supporter scream with joy. But actually this is not enough. It’s still a little too self-centered for some people. The critics want more, and so does Pochettino.
This USMNT lacks midfield depth. These are all defenders, wingbacks and forwards for 2026 runs. So, Reyna just needs to increase his overall work rate. Even if he’s on the bench, be useful. Catch or drop the ball depending on the scoreline. Be cheeky. Show some character and pride in the result.
The former Borussia Dortmund standout could begin to change minds by adopting a role that doesn’t revolve around him. Pochettino has repeatedly stressed competition, maturity and a team-first attitude throughout this cycle. Reyna has reportedly responded well inside the camp, with the manager publicly praising the atmosphere and professionalism between the players fighting for minutes.
This means tracking runners, winning the second ball, applying pressure after turnovers and making extra passes. Celebrating a teammate’s goal with the same enthusiasm as your own will go a long way in winning over your opponents. Those moments may not trend on social media, but they’re exactly the moments former players pay attention to.
Christian Pulisic will attract the most attention. Weston McKennie will provide energy and personality. Tyler Adams will set the emotional tone. Reyna could become the best supporting actress of the World Cup and become a national legend in the process. Until then, the voices shaping American soccer’s loudest opinions aren’t going to be silenced just because Gio Reyna made the team.
USMNT all-time leading scorer Landon Donovan laid out his terms in clear terms.
“If I’m Pochettino, I go to him and say, ‘Geo, there’s a good chance you won’t play a minute this summer. Chances are you’ll play a lot of minutes,'” Donovan told fellow USMNT veteran Tim Howard. “But no matter what, I need to know that you’ll be a good teammate, stay on the board, keep your mouth shut, keep working, and help the group. And if you’re willing to do that, I’m bringing you in.'”
This was a serious limitation for a 23-year-old player who has nine goals and six assists in 39 international appearances. But that is the reality for Reyna heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The old guard remembers 2022. And many of them have not progressed fully.
The World Cup is the stage that makes all this irrelevant. If Reyna comes off the bench in a tense knockout game, plays a wall pass that unlocks the defence, finds the corner of the net late in the second half… then former players questioning his commitment will reluctantly fall silent, or openly convert. If not, see you in the next round, where you’ll hear the same ‘old’ stories.
Talent has never been an issue for Gio Reyna. For nearly a decade, the son of Claudio has been viewed as one of the most naturally talented players in the USMNT pipeline. His first touch, vision and ability to unlock defenses are qualities few American players can match.
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