Gio Reyna scored his first goal for the USMNT in five months, helping the team to a 2-1 win over Paraguay. The Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder's return to the national team was a long time coming, but Saturday's performance against Paraguay is a promising sign for the future.
Reyna has been plagued by injuries and controversy since the 2022 World Cup, which led to his lack of game time at club level. However, US head coach Mauricio Pochettino believes that Reyna was called up for this window because it's one of the last chances he'll have to assess the midfielder's fit with the team before the pool is cut considerably ahead of the March 2026 international window.
Pochettino's gamble paid off as Reyna scored in the fourth minute, rising to meet a cross from Max Arfsten and heading the ball over the line. The goal sparked jubilation among the US players, but Reyna remained calm, pointing to the US badge and acknowledging his teammates before returning to the center circle.
The win was a much-needed boost for the USMNT, who have been struggling to find consistency in recent months. Pochettino's team is still adapting to a three-man backline look that has brought success in 2025, but there are concerns about their ability to defend against counter-attacks.
Despite some defensive lapses, including a goal from Paraguay's Alex Arce in the 10th minute and a yellow card for Miles Robinson, the USMNT's solid defense allowed them to stay in the game. Reyna continued to operate effectively well into the second half before being removed, marking the most minutes he's played since the United States' loss to Uruguay in the 2024 Copa América.
The win is a crucial moment in the USMNT's preparations for the World Cup next year, and if Reyna can maintain his form, it could raise the team's ceiling significantly. With a promising attacking option now available, Pochettino will be eager to assess how well Reyna fits into the team ahead of the March window.
The US meet Uruguay again on Tuesday in Tampa, Florida, with another chance to prove themselves against a tough opponent. The win over Paraguay is just the beginning for the USMNT as they continue their preparations for the World Cup, and if Reyna can replicate his form, it could be a game-changer for the team's chances next year.
Reyna has been plagued by injuries and controversy since the 2022 World Cup, which led to his lack of game time at club level. However, US head coach Mauricio Pochettino believes that Reyna was called up for this window because it's one of the last chances he'll have to assess the midfielder's fit with the team before the pool is cut considerably ahead of the March 2026 international window.
Pochettino's gamble paid off as Reyna scored in the fourth minute, rising to meet a cross from Max Arfsten and heading the ball over the line. The goal sparked jubilation among the US players, but Reyna remained calm, pointing to the US badge and acknowledging his teammates before returning to the center circle.
The win was a much-needed boost for the USMNT, who have been struggling to find consistency in recent months. Pochettino's team is still adapting to a three-man backline look that has brought success in 2025, but there are concerns about their ability to defend against counter-attacks.
Despite some defensive lapses, including a goal from Paraguay's Alex Arce in the 10th minute and a yellow card for Miles Robinson, the USMNT's solid defense allowed them to stay in the game. Reyna continued to operate effectively well into the second half before being removed, marking the most minutes he's played since the United States' loss to Uruguay in the 2024 Copa América.
The win is a crucial moment in the USMNT's preparations for the World Cup next year, and if Reyna can maintain his form, it could raise the team's ceiling significantly. With a promising attacking option now available, Pochettino will be eager to assess how well Reyna fits into the team ahead of the March window.
The US meet Uruguay again on Tuesday in Tampa, Florida, with another chance to prove themselves against a tough opponent. The win over Paraguay is just the beginning for the USMNT as they continue their preparations for the World Cup, and if Reyna can replicate his form, it could be a game-changer for the team's chances next year.
! it's been ages since he last played for the USMNT and to score that goal was like a weight lifted off everyone's shoulders 
. i think coach Pochettino took a huge risk calling him up again, but it clearly paid off 
. reyna's got the skill and talent, but he's also shown he can handle the pressure 
. now we just gotta see if he can keep that form going...fingers crossed for the USMNT! 
. We've seen him struggle with injuries and controversy in the past, so it'll be interesting to see if he can maintain this level of performance 
. The win over Paraguay was a much-needed boost, but we need to see consistency from the team, especially defensively 
. With Reyna scoring and playing effectively well into the second half, it's clear that Pochettino has found an important piece in his midfield puzzle 
. Can he stay fit and continue to score goals for the US? That's what makes me curious about the March window 
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! I was getting so worried about him, like he's been out for ages 
. But seriously, that 2-1 win over Paraguay is a huge confidence booster for the USMNT 
! If Reyna can stay fit and on form, that 3rd spot in the World Cup is looking pretty achievable 
I mean, he's been out of the picture since that 2022 World Cup and now suddenly he's back in the mix? 
It feels like a bit too easy for Pochettino to just give him another shot. What if it doesn't work out again? 
Shouldn't that be a bigger deal than Gio scoring a goal? 
I mean, we're still trying to figure out this three-man backline thing... 
! It was like a weight lifted off the team's shoulders. I mean, they've been struggling to find consistency lately and it's great to see them pick up a win against Paraguay.
. If Reyna keeps scoring like this, it could definitely boost their chances of going all the way in the tournament!
he's been through so much with injuries and drama but now he's finally showing signs of being a top player again 
2-1 win over Paraguay wasn't even his only goal, I'm loving the fact that he was calm and composed after scoring tho, like he knew it was a big moment 
and you know what's even crazier? He's not even getting the recognition he deserves yet 
but with Pochettino at the helm and this new 3-man backline look, I think USMNT is on the cusp of something special 
can't wait to see Gio Reyna in action again and how much of a difference he'll make for the team 
, 5 months without a goal and now he finally breaks through against Paraguay. its like he was only called up because everyone else is about to get cut 
its like they're trying to get beat by everyone 
. The fact that Gio Reyna's goal sparked jubilation but also had some defensive lapses is just wild 
. I hope Pochettino has a plan in place to assess how well he fits into the team, because right now it looks like they're just winging it 
.
. And Gio Reyna needs to keep up the form or else he'll be dropped again 
. March window can't come soon enough for this team 
! 5 months without a goal and now he's scoring against Paraguay 
. Now we need to see if he can maintain this form throughout the rest of the window 
! And if Pochettino's gamble pays off, man, that 2026 World Cup could be lookin' like a real possibility 
.
. The fact that Reyna remained calm after scoring is also telling - he's finally found his confidence back on the field.
Now, about that three-man backline look... I'm not sure if it's a permanent solution or just a tactical experiment for now. Either way, it's forced the team to adapt and find new ways to defend against those pesky counter-attacks 
. The win over Paraguay was a welcome respite from their recent struggles, but there's still work to be done before the World Cup next year.
. Now let's see if they can sustain this momentum against Uruguay next week 
It's like he never left. The USMNT is definitely looking up now with this guy back in the mix. I'm not sure what's more surprising - Reyna scoring his first goal or the fact that US coach Pochettino managed to get him on the field without too many issues! 
So Gio Reyna finally scores his first goal in ages! Guess you could say he's 're-ignite-ing' interest in the USMNT 
. The win over Paraguay was definitely needed, and it's great to see the team bounce back from their recent struggles 
. Pochettino's got his reasons for calling him up, but I think it's also a test of how the team can adjust with Reyna in the mix. The 3-man backline is definitely an interesting experiment, and if they can find consistency on defense, then maybe this could be the start of something special