Brenden Aaronson named in USA squad for home World Cup after standout Leeds season | OneFootball

Brenden Aaronson has been named in the USA squad for this summer’s home World Cup, becoming Leeds United’s fourth confirmed 2026 call-up.

According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, national team boss Mauricio Pochettino confirmed his 26-man group on Tuesday evening. The 25-year-old earned selection after a much-improved club campaign that helped Leeds avoid relegation.

Aaronson recorded four goals and five assists in 37 Premier League outings as Leeds finished 14th, eight points clear of relegated West Ham. Only top scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin bettered his nine direct contributions, with Noah Okafor level.

The USA, co-hosts with Canada and Mexico, are in Group D. They face Paraguay in Los Angeles on 13 June, Australia in Seattle on 19 June, then Türkiye back in Los Angeles on 26 June. Pochettino’s side will hope to at least match their last-16 run from Qatar 2022.

After Leeds’ final-day defeat at West Ham, Aaronson said he would be super excited and that, if he could go, a home World Cup would be a dream for him and his family, something he would never forget.

He will reunite with former Leeds teammates Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie in camp. Adams later joined Bournemouth in a £20million move, while McKennie’s loan from Juventus in January 2023 brought 19 appearances before he returned to Italy after relegation.

Aaronson and Adams are among five Premier League players selected, alongside Crystal Palace’s Chris Richards, Fulham’s Antonee Robinson and newly promoted Coventry City striker Haji Wright. Celtic’s title-winning defender Auston Trusty is also included.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk