Pressure building ahead of the 2026 World Cup
The United States are moving closer to a historic milestone as they prepare to co-host the 2026 World Cup across North America. With expectations steadily growing, so is the pressure on the current USMNT generation to perform on home soil. Reyna is seen as one of the most technically gifted players in the pool, but inconsistent club minutes and previous challenges within the national team setup have raised doubts about his long-term role.
Donovan delivers blunt advice
Donovan, long considered the standard for American soccer excellence, feels the Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder must now fully lock in on his performances. With competition for attacking and midfield places becoming more intense, mistakes or inconsistency could prove costly as the tournament approaches. He was direct when addressing Reyna’s situation and the scrutiny around him.
Speaking on his Unfiltered Soccer podcast, he said: "This is the way I see it, if it's a 23-man roster, Gio doesn't make it. I think because it's 26, you can add a player, two or three, that have a superstar quality. And sometimes that means just being an amazing teammate, great in training, helps the whole group get better. Sometimes it means a guy who just does something special, and Gio can do something special.
"My caveat with Gio is, if I'm Pochettino, I go to him and say: 'Gio, there is every chance you don't play one minute this summer. Every chance. There's a chance you play a lot of minutes. But whatever happens, I need to know you are going to be a good teammate on board. Keep your mouth shut. Keep working and help the group. If you're willing to do that, I'm bringing you. And if you tell me you're willing to do it and you don't do it at some point in the tournament, I'm sending you home'. That's it. If you do that and he's on board with that, he's worth having."
Struggles for minutes in the Bundesliga
Reyna’s lack of consistent game time remains a key concern for the USMNT staff ahead of the World Cup. Since joining Monchengladbach last summer, the 23-year-old has struggled for rhythm and fitness, and has not registered a start this calendar year.
He has managed only 82 minutes in total, all from six substitute appearances, which raises questions about his readiness for the intensity of tournament football. Even so, former USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard believes Reyna still brings a unique quality that could be valuable in high-pressure moments.
"You know, the other thing that I think Gio doesn't get enough credit for, he's got some spice and bite, man," Howard explained. "I just wonder if there's a moment where Poch gets fed up in like the 60th minute and just goes, 'I need someone on the pitch who's willing to just be a dog and fight'. And obviously he's very good talent wise, taking the ball."
Reyna faces crucial period
The fight for attacking spots in the USMNT setup is heating up, with players like Christian Pulisic, Malik Tillman and Brenden Aaronson all competing to shape the team’s creative direction. The coming weeks could be pivotal for Reyna, as regular club minutes and stronger consistency will be essential if he wants to secure his place for the 2026 World Cup squad.
