Gio Reyna stamps his return to the USMNT

Gio Reyna’s USMNT future has been in doubt ahead of next summer’s World Cup. 

Cast away as Pochettino shaped his squad’s identity, Reyna lacked a solid club situation to fall back on. Injuries derailed his place in Dortmund’s depth chart, and a summer move to BMG has only produced 142 minutes of playing time – just 63 minutes off the bench over the past month. It’s been frustrating for the 23 year old. However, injuries to Malik Tillman and Christian Pulisic during the October international break left the window open for a healthy Reyna to prove that he has learned from the past year of his professional journey. 

Pochettino made the call ahead of the November window, naming both Joe Scally and Reyna to the squad in hopes of seeing progress in both their game and attitude. The Argentine is running out of time to define his core roster, and the chance to reevaluate a talent like Gio Reyna was a chance that his team had to consider.

“Gio has enormous talent, and it's true that it's not playing too much, but I think it's a good opportunity in November”, Pochettino said. “And to have not too many possibilities to see him again, and to try to share time with him, more than to perform on the pitches. It's more about to be with him, to share time, to know him better."

If we learn one thing this era of the USMNT, it’s that Pochettino will allow players to sink or swim. That was apparent in his starting lineup against Paraguay, which featured both Reyna and Scally. 

Scally was largely fine in his 67 minute appearance. He was partly to blame for Paraguay’s lone goal in the 10th minute, but he was no more to blame than the entire backline’s failure to either step to Miggy Almíron or mark Alex Arce as he charged down their throat.

A solid defensive performance – four tackles, two clearances, and three recoveries – helped solidify a back three that largely kept Paraguay at arm’s length. Did Scally earn another call-up? It’s hard to say, the backline needs someone to step u,p and Scally’s flexibility should tip the scales in his favor… but it’s all whether Pochettino has seen the response he was looking for out of the Gladbach duo.

Similarly, Reyna’s start was phenomenal for a player who needed to help his cause. 

Gio Reyna hadn’t started for the national team since the disastrous Copa América campaign, but you wouldn’t know it from his performance in Chester, PA. 

Immediately, the US pinned Paraguay back. 

Max Arfsten provided great service from the wide spaces all night and hit Gio Reyna as the ball recycled from the game’s first corner attempt. Rising above the fray, Reyna scored his first USMNT goal since the 2024 Nations League final, emphatically heading Arfsten’s cross off the underside of the bar. 

Reyna carried that goal into a complete performance. 

He pressed, created two dangerous chances, created off the dribble, and helped create Folarin Balogun’s game winning goal. 

“I think he did a very good job.” Pochettino reflected. “He showed why he started, he confirmed why he’s a player that needs to improve because he needs to play more at his club. [...] The way that he read the game, and found the free spaces in between the line. I think that he was a nightmare for Paraguay, it was a very good job.”

Looking ahead, the US have one more opportunitiy before Pochettino has months to ponder on his roster. At that point, the manager will need to have a good idea of his roster with just a handful of friendlies ahead of the World Cup next summer.

Unlike Scally’s situation, Reyna’s is complicated by the players that he would have to usurp on the depth chart. Reyna is in the fold thanks to the absences of Tillman, Pulisic, Tyler Adams, and Weston McKennie. On a pure talent level, a 23 year old Reyna should be a lock for the team, but with Diego Luna, Cristian Roldan, and others seemingly winning over Pochettino with their work ethic and grit, is there space for a more mercurial talent like reyna?

Ultimately, it will come down to how Reyna behaves during camp, and how he takes success back to BMG. Gladback need a player like Reyna to step into the spotlight but he will need to take advantage of an increased profile after this international window. 

How he responds wil determine if he belongs on next summer’s roster… well and the perenially shaky injury history of every top performer.