Gio Reyna focuses on growth ahead of 2026 World Cup

Two years ago, Gio Reyna’s name was more associated with locker room tension and family feuds than highlight-reel goals. Now he’s scoring trivelas on the World Cup stage and announcing he’s going to be a father.

From controversy to the World Cup roster

Reyna’s journey to the 2026 World Cup has been anything but linear. The 23-year-old midfielder was named to Mauricio Pochettino’s 26-player USMNT roster on May 26, a selection that carried more narrative weight than most. His 2022 Qatar World Cup experience was defined less by what happened on the pitch and more by what happened off it, including a very public fallout involving his family and former head coach Gregg Berhalter.

His inclusion on the 2026 roster signaled that Pochettino, who took over the USMNT reins with a mandate to professionalize the program, saw past the noise. The Argentine coach has been vocal about his belief in the midfielder, saying he “really trusts” Reyna and expressing confidence in his abilities. That’s notable given Reyna’s inconsistent playing time at the club level with Borussia Mönchengladbach, where minutes have not always come easily.

A trivela and a turning point

Whatever doubts existed about Reyna’s readiness were answered emphatically on June 13, when the US opened its home World Cup against Paraguay.

Reyna scored a trivela goal in the USMNT’s convincing 4-1 victory. For the uninitiated: a trivela is struck with the outside of the foot, curling the ball in a way that looks like it shouldn’t be physically possible. It’s a shot that requires absurd technical skill and even more confidence to attempt in a World Cup match.

Personal milestones beyond the pitch

After the Paraguay match, Reyna shared news that his wife is expecting a child.

The Berhalter saga was genuinely messy. Reyna’s family became embroiled in a dispute with the former coach that spilled into public view, involving allegations that went well beyond tactical disagreements. Pochettino’s arrival gave him a clean slate with a coach who had no history with the previous regime’s dysfunction. His recent comments have centered on personal growth and team success rather than past grievances.

What to watch as the tournament progresses

Pochettino’s trust in Reyna is meaningful because the coach has managed at the highest levels of European football, having worked with generational talents at Tottenham, PSG, and Chelsea. When someone with that resume says he believes in a player despite limited club minutes, it carries weight. It also suggests Pochettino sees something in training and in the locker room that the stat sheets at Mönchengladbach don’t fully capture.

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