Mauricio Pochettino’s roster for the World Cup includes polarizing winger Gio Reyna, but defensive midfielder Tanner Tessmann’s name was stunningly not among the 26-man squad.

The U.S. men’s national team’s roster leaked Saturday, a full holiday weekend ahead of schedule, with the official announcement planned for Tuesday afternoon in New York City. The Guardian was first to report the entire squad, though The Athletic reported Reyna’s inclusion Friday night.

While Reyna had been the most hotly debated player in the national team pool since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Pochettino’s boldest decision by far was in central midfield. Naming Tyler Adams, Sebastian Berhalter, Cristian Roldan and Weston McKennie, while leaving at home Tessmann — who was seen as close to a lock — along with Aidan Morris leaves the national team curiously thin at the position.

Tessmann had been dealing with a muscle strain that caused him to miss games for Lyon, but that was not anticipated to affect his World Cup status. It’s not known whether the injury prompted Pochettino’s decision. The U.S. already was a man short in defensive midfield due to injury after Johnny Cardoso underwent ankle surgery, ending his World Cup chances.

Tessmann had 14 caps and a goal for the national team, and he was viewed as a potential starter in a midfield duo with Tyler Adams. With this group, it’s not obvious at all who will start alongside Adams — or if Pochettino will even continue playing with two holding midfielders, though he’s done so throughout his time in charge of the national team — given that McKennie could start higher up the pitch.

Pochettino generally has employed either a 4-2-3-1 or a 3-4-2-1, both including a central duo of deep-lying midfielders. If that’s still the plan, it might mean that Roldan or Berhalter have much bigger roles to play on this team than expected.

Alejandro Zendejas was a surprising inclusion after not being called into a pair of friendlies in March, but the Club América attacking midfielder’s form — six goals and four assists in 12 Liga MX games this season — seems to have pushed him ahead of Diego Luna.

Though Luna’s appearance in a Fox advertisement promoting the tournament had some believing he was in, Pochettino said back in March not to take marketing as a sign of who would be included on the team.

In Reyna’s case, it had been clear since a successful November camp that he was trending toward being on the roster. Even when the winger was struggling for playing time at Borussia Monchengladbach, Pochettino had him in the March camp, and he’s been a consistent presence off the bench for the Bundesliga side since then. While it’s unlikely Reyna will see a heavy minutes load for the national team, he could be favored as an attack-minded substitute.

Christian Pulisic, Malik Tillman, Brendan Aaronson and Tim Weah’s names being listed at the same position comes as no surprise. Ditto for Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi and Haji Wright at striker.

Pochettino did ultimately call in five center backs, with both Auston Trusty and Miles Robinson on the roster in addition to the trio of Mark McKenzie, Tim Ream and Chris Richards, all of whose names were written in pen.

Joe Scally and Alex Freeman, two outside backs who could play a more central role in a pinch, were included on the roster as well. Scally was one of the last few names on the bubble.

The U.S. does have solid depth at outside back, with Sergiño Dest and Antonee Robinson the likely starters. Max Arfsten is an option as well, and Weah can play the position if need be.

The three goalkeepers named were as expected. Matt Freese and Matt Turner presumably will compete for the top job — it’s been Freese’s to lose for some time now — with Chris Brady as the No. 3.

Goalkeepers (3): Matt Freese (NYCFC), Matt Turner (New England Revolution), Chris Brady (Chicago Fire)

Center backs (5): Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Auston Trusty (Celtic FC), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati)

Outside backs (5): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach)

Central/holding midfielders (4): Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders)

Attacking midfielders/wingers (6): Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen), Brendan Aaronson (Leeds United), Tim Weah (Marseille), Gio Reyna (Borussia Monchengladbach), Alejandro Zendejas (Club América)

Strikers (3): Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Haji Wright (Coventry City)