Community
U.S. Men’s National Team Names its Roster for World Cup 2026
MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY MEDIASHIFT NEWSROOM — Twenty-five of the 26 players attended the roster reveal event, with defender Chris Richards absent while training with Crystal Palace ahead of the UEFA Conference League final. Richards reportedly suffered two torn ankle ligaments, putting his World Cup status into question but is expected to play when the World Cup starts June 11.
NEW YORK – Now we know.
The wait is officially over as the U.S. men’s national team revealed its 2026 FIFA World Cup roster on Tuesday afternoon during a fan celebration at The Rooftop at Pier 17 live on Fox Sports. After weeks of rumors, speculation and even leaked reports online to multiple outlets, fans finally received confirmation on who will represent the United States at home on soccer’s biggest stage.
National teams participating in the World Cup must submit their final 26-player rosters by June 1, with FIFA officially confirming and publishing the lists on June 2.
Twenty-five of the 26 players attended the roster reveal event, with defender Chris Richards absent while training with Crystal Palace ahead of the UEFA Conference League final. Richards reportedly suffered two torn ankle ligaments, putting his World Cup status into question but is expected to play when the World Cup starts June 11.
This event was meant to appeal to fans preparing for a World Cup tournament staged on U.S. soil for the first time since 1994.
Walking throughout Pier 17, fans were catered to with momentos, a festive enviornment and opportunities to create memories. There were photo booths and soccer stations. The main stage was set on the rooftop, replete with free activations, a live D.J. and a hype woman to boost the energy.
During the actual reveal, players were called up one by one to show off their jerseys before standing side by side together. Immediately after, Atlanta rapper Gunna came out to perform one of his hit songs.
The day’s events appealed to fans sweating on a hot rooftop waiting to greet players and standing though a heavily produced television show by FOX Sports.
Players were finally introduced through smoke plumes on stage.
In a press conference following the celebration, USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino spoke about the process of officially selecting the players for this 2026 team.
He mulled over the decision until the end.
“I think it was the day before–the day before I announced the roster–because we had all the information over the last few weeks and were working on different things,” Pochettino said. “Then the last day… at the very last moment, we decided.”
“We had an idea. It’s not that we changed 20 players, but I think we were watching, analyzing and assessing every situation, and we decided on the 26 players on the roster.”
Notable players such as midfielders Diego Luna and Tanner Tessmann were left off the final roster. When asked about players who did not make the squad, Pochettino declined to comment.
“I think we cannot talk about the players who are not on the roster because I think it’s very disrespectful to the players who made the roster,” he said. “If we are going to talk about the players who are not on the roster, then we also have to ask which players should not be on the roster.”
The roster mixes familiar faces with new talent. Thirteen players return from the 2022 World Cup squad that reached the Round of 16 in Qatar, while the rest are preparing for their first World Cup appearance.
Returning midfielder Tyler Adams reflected on having the roster revealed in New York, where he spent much of his childhood playing soccer.
“I spent a lot of time in the city growing up, just playing in the best tournaments I could find,” he said. “It feels like everything has kind of come full circle. Having a roster announcement in your home state, where you have friends and family coming to an event like this, is really, really special.”
This year’s roster also highlights the growing influence of Black athletes within American soccer. Thirteen Black players made the 2026 squad, one more than the 2022 World Cup team.
According to For Soccer, a 2025 study found that 18 million Black Americans have at least some interest in soccer. More than half of Black soccer fans are between 18 and 34 years old, with especially strong interest among Gen Z audiences.
“It’s definitely a reason to be proud–to back those guys,” said Kevin Young, lifelong soccer fan who attended the event. “I think there should be more initiatives in the country to bring soccer and let kids know that soccer exists and the opportunities it can provide.”
With the World Cup taking place in 11 major American cities and a younger, predominantly Black core helping lead the national team, many fans believe this tournament could become a major turning point for soccer’s popularity within Black communities across the country.
“One thing I really like about the Black players on the team, outside of representation, is that they’re playing abroad,” said Qiana Martin, founder of Eat Soccer and a senior soccer coach in New York City.
“Soccer is a global sport, and it is really important for as many players of color–particularly Black players of color–to get into the sport because it is literally a global passport to communicate with the rest of the world.”
The USMNT will travel to its training location in Fayetteville, GA, for the next few days ahead of its second-to-last international friendly against Senegal national football team on May 31 in Charlotte, N.C., before its first World Cup match against Paraguay national football team on June 12 at SoFi Stadium.
Here’s a list of the Black players on the 2026 USMNT team:
No. 2 – Sergiño Dest
Born in the Netherlands to a Surinamese-American father, Dest came through the famous AFC Ajax academy before later joining FC Barcelona. He remains one of the most technically gifted players in U.S. Soccer history.
Dest plays with flair and confidence, often attacking like a winger despite being listed as a defender. After battling injuries, he recently returned to full fitness while playing major minutes for PSV Eindhoven.
No. 3 – Chris Richards
Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Richards developed through the FC Dallas academy before moving to FC Bayern Munich. He built a reputation as a calm, modern defender known for strong passing, recovery speed and organizing the backline.
Richards became one of Mauricio Pochettino’s most trusted defenders during qualifying.
No. 4 – Tyler Adams
Adams remains one of the most respected voices in the locker room after developing through the New York Red Bulls system and previously captaining the national team.
As a defensive midfielder, Adams specializes in winning the ball back and protecting the defense. Although injuries have slowed him over the past two years, he remains one of the most important pieces of the U.S. midfield.
No. 5 – Antonee Robinson
Nicknamed “Jedi,” Robinson is one of the fastest players in the U.S. player pool. The Fulham F.C. defender is known for nonstop energy, overlapping runs and helping push the American attack forward from the left side.
Robinson recently returned to full fitness after injury concerns and is widely viewed as one of the best American fullbacks currently playing in Europe.
No. 8 – Weston McKennie
McKennie has become one of the emotional leaders of the national team. Raised between Texas and Germany, the midfielder is known for physicality, high energy and his ability to impact games on both ends of the field.
The Juventus F.C. midfielder is coming off one of the strongest club seasons of his career and has discussed the pressure surrounding expectations for the 2026 tournament.
No. 12 – Miles Robinson
Robinson’s return to the World Cup roster marks a full-circle moment after missing the 2022 tournament because of a devastating Achilles injury.
The former Syracuse University standout is known for speed, recovery ability and physical defending.
No. 15 – Auston Trusty
The Philadelphia native worked his way from Major League Soccer into Europe and now provides physicality and depth for the American defense.
Trusty’s aggressive style and aerial ability make him an important rotational option.
No. 16 – Alex Freeman
Freeman, the son of former NFL receiver Antonio Freeman, represents one of the younger rising talents on the roster.
The versatile defender is viewed as an athletic, attack-minded option for the future.
No. 17 – Malik Tillman
Tillman, who developed through FC Bayern Munich, is viewed as one of the smoothest and most naturally talented attackers in the American player pool.
Known for creativity and composure on the ball, Tillman gives the United States another attacking playmaker capable of creating chances between defensive lines.
No. 19 – Haji Wright
The Los Angeles native has played professionally across Germany, the Netherlands, Turkey and England.
Wright gives the United States size, strength and another dangerous attacking option capable of scoring in transition moments.
No. 20 – Folarin Balogun
Born in New York to Nigerian parents and raised in England, Balogun committed internationally to the United States over both England and Nigeria.
Balogun gives the United States a true goal-scoring striker capable of stretching defenses with pace and movement.
No. 21 – Tim Weah
The son of George Weah, Weah developed through Paris Saint-Germain F.C. and has become one of the team’s most versatile players.
Known for explosive speed and dangerous counterattacks, Weah can play winger, striker, wingback or wide midfielder depending on the matchup.
No. 22 – Mark McKenzie
McKenzie developed through the Philadelphia Union academy before building a professional career across Europe.
Beyond soccer, he has also become one of the team’s more vocal players on race and social justice conversations.
Black History
Oakland Protesters Rally to Defend Haitian Immigrants and TPS
The Haiti Action Committee traces its roots to the international movement that emerged following Haiti’s 1991 military coup, which overthrew the nation’s first democratically elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Political violence sent thousands of Haitians fleeing the country, while U.S. policies resulted in refugees being intercepted at sea, repatriated, or detained at Guantanamo Bay.
Protesters gathered in downtown Oakland near City Hall at 14th Street and Broadway on Thursday, Aug. 13, calling for protections for Haitian immigrants and an end to deportation policies affecting Haitian communities across the United States.
Organized as a call to action by the Legalization for All Network and supported by the Haiti Action Committee and other community organizations, the demonstration carried a clear message: “Defend TPS! Legalization, Not Deportation!”
Participants focused attention on the termination of Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, for Haiti and immigration policies protesters described as continuing attacks on Haitian immigrants under the Trump administration.
Haitian Romaine Charite of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization urged demonstrators to stand with Haitian families and led chants:
“When Haitians are under attack, what do we do? We fight back.”
Injustice to one is an injustice to us all.”
“Dump Trump!”
Charite and other protesters condemned the federal government’s treatment of Haitian immigrants, describing the policies as an attack on a population already facing extraordinary hardship.
Haiti’s TPS designation was terminated effective July 27, 2026, removing temporary deportation protections and work authorization for hundreds of thousands of Haitian beneficiaries who lacked another legal basis to remain in the United States.
Gerald Smith, a protester and former member of the Black Panther Party during the 1970s, said Haitians were being unfairly targeted and warned that ending TPS would have a devastating impact on Haitian families and communities.
“These policies are racially motivated and unfair,” Smith said. “Everyone deserves the right to self-determination and protection from persecution.”
The Haiti Action Committee cited the continuing political, economic and humanitarian crisis in Haiti as evidence that returning large numbers of immigrants to the country could place already vulnerable people at greater risk.
The Oakland gathering, which drew about 20 participants, reflected a decades-long history of Bay Area activism surrounding Haitian democracy, refugee rights and U.S. immigration policy.
The Haiti Action Committee traces its roots to the international movement that emerged following Haiti’s 1991 military coup, which overthrew the nation’s first democratically elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Political violence sent thousands of Haitians fleeing the country, while U.S. policies resulted in refugees being intercepted at sea, repatriated or detained at Guantanamo Bay.
Those policies sparked protests involving Haitian communities, Black activists, artists, college students, churches, labor organizations and human rights advocates. Prominent figures, including dancer and activist Katherine Dunham, tennis champion Arthur Ashe, and TransAfrica leader Randall Robinson, joined campaigns challenging the treatment of Haitian refugees.
In 1992, Haiti Action Committee joined other Bay Area organizations in a dramatic demonstration on San Francisco Bay. Boats carrying Haitian participants were intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard while supporters gathered along the waterfront and reportedly chanted, “Let Them Land!”
More than three decades later, protesters have returned to the streets of Oakland, centering on protecting Haitian immigrants, opposing deportation and pressing for immigration policies that provide families with a pathway toward permanent legal residency.
For more information, visit Haitisolidarity.net.
Community
First 5 Alameda County Celebrates First Year of Measure C’s Implementation
Measure C, a community-led and voter-approved half-cent sales tax, was designed to generate approximately $150 million annually for early care and education. During its first year, the initiative reached more than 20,000 children and supported more than 6,400 early educators and caregivers throughout the county.
First 5 Alameda County marked the first anniversary of the impact of Measure C with a community celebration Friday, Aug. 7, at Children’s Fairyland in Oakland, highlighting more than $135 million invested to strengthen early childhood education, families and caregivers across Alameda County.
The celebration brought together families, educators, caregivers, advocates, elected officials and community leaders for an evening of music, cultural performances, and children’s activities.
“Oakland is on the move,” said Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, commending all the advocates who helped win the victory for early childhood education and their providers.
Measure C, a community-led and voter-approved half-cent sales tax, was designed to generate approximately $150 million annually for early care and education. During its first year, the initiative reached more than 20,000 children and supported more than 6,400 early educators and caregivers throughout the county.
First 5 Alameda County CEO Kristin Spanos said, “In the first 10 months of Measure C being available after the Board of Supervisors adopted the 5-year plan, we’ve had over $135 million put directly into the community supporting children and providers with emergency grants, investments, and stipends.”
First 5 Alameda County, the public agency responsible for administering Measure C, focused on quickly moving voter-approved dollars into local communities while developing partnerships, accountability measures, and infrastructure intended to create long-term impact.
Alameda County District 5 Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas: “We’re celebrating the first year of getting money into families’ pockets and childcare providers’ pockets. This is about deploying very vital resources over the course of five years. It’s a billion-dollar impact.”
Community Advisory Council member Nancy Harvey said, “We are totally excited. It was a 10-year fight, and we fought tooth and nail. We had so much support from County Supervisors Nate Miley and Nikki Fortunato Bas, the unions, and the late Supervisor Wilma Chan. This is a historic event – people are watching Measure C all over the nation.”
Harvey explained that small childcare providers received a $40,000 grant, and larger providers received a $50,000 grant.
Childcare advocate and provider Lisa Zarodney of Livermore said, “When I got my emergency funds, I was about to close. The stipend allowed me to continue through 2026 and get all the babies on my wait list.”
In business for 27 years, Zarodney said she is now caring for the children of past clients.
“I couldn’t continue my legacy, my dream, and my passion without the funding from Measure C.”
Harvey emphasized that he next leg of the fight is to ensure workers have a sustainable wage.
“We are now pushing to raise the wage of workers to $25 to keep doors open and people employed,” she said.
First 5 Alameda County’s vision is to build an integrated and equity-centered early childhood system supporting children, families, and communities regardless of race, income, or neighborhood. As administrator of Measure C, the agency has worked to expand access to early care and education, strengthen family stability, and support the providers and caregivers families rely upon.
Through Measure C and partnerships with initiatives including the Oakland Children’s Initiative, First 5 Alameda County has sought to reduce fragmented services and better coordinate public resources.
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#CarlaThomas #PostNewsGroup #OaklandPost #San FranciscoPost #MeasureC #First5AlamedaCounty #AlamedaCounty #Oakland #EarlyChildhoodEducation #EarlyLearning #ChildCare #ChildrenAndFamilies #FamilySupport #EarlyEducators #ChildCareProviders #CommunityInvestment #CommunityImpact #OaklandFamilies #BayAreaFamilies #EquityInEducation #StrongStart #InvestInChildren #OaklandNews #BayAreaNews
Commentary
From Palestine to Oakland: Seeds for Liberation Examines Shared Struggles for Freedom
The screening was hosted by the East Bay Democratic Socialists of America and the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation. Following the film, director Matthew Solomon joined local community leaders for a discussion about solidarity, resistance, and the historical connections explored throughout the documentary.
Community members gathered at the Black Panther Party Museum on Saturday, Aug. 15, in downtown Oakland for a screening of “Seeds for Liberation,” an award-winning documentary examining the Palestinian liberation movement and its connections to Black, Chicano and other movements for collective liberation.
The film reveals the face of conflict, struggle, and injustice today and yesterday. In one scene, a bleeding child pleads for help on a shell-shattered rooftop after a bombing in the Gaza Strip last year. In another scene, newly freed Nelson Mandela addresses thousands at the Oakland Coliseum in 1990, at the end of apartheid.
The screening was hosted by the East Bay Democratic Socialists of America and the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation. Following the film, director Matthew Solomon joined local community leaders for a discussion about solidarity, resistance, and the historical connections explored throughout the documentary.
Directed by Solomon and executive-produced by Donna Hadjikhani and Alana Hadid, “Seeds for Liberation” situates Palestinian experiences within the broader history of anti-imperialist and decolonial movements.
Through interviews with historians, legal scholars, activists and organizers, the documentary examines Palestinian resistance. It also details the role of social media in shaping the public’s understanding of the impact of Palestine’s 77-year occupation by Israeli forces, events in Gaza and the West Bank, and relationships between liberation movements across generations and geographic boundaries.
The film includes perspectives of people connected to the Black Liberation Army, La Raza Unida and the Stop Cop City movement. Those featured talk about colonialism, U.S. foreign policy, policing, racial justice and their views of what solidarity with Palestinians has meant.
Solomon developed the documentary following his previous film, “Reimagining Safety,” which explored alternatives to traditional policing.
“I use film as a medium to connect personal testimony with larger social and political questions,” said Solomon, who is currently touring the film across the nation as well as Canada and other countries.
Executive producer Hadjikhani brought a personal connection to the project. An Iranian American designer and social justice advocate, she traveled to Gaza and the West Bank as a college student in 1993 during the First Intifada. Hadid has since focused on Palestinian stories and other underrepresented voices.
The Oakland screening carried added historical significance because it was held in the Black Panther Party Museum, where the history of Black resistance and community organizing provided a backdrop for the film’s examination of interconnected struggles.
Activist and artist Cat Brooks passionately spoke about the fight for the freedom of all people. “No one is free until everyone is free,” she said.
Brooks played a key role in the struggle for justice for Oscar Grant, who was gunned down by a BART police officer in 2009 and is co-founder of the Anti Police-Terror Project (APTP), whose mission is to rapidly respond to and ultimately eradicate state violence in communities of color.
Rather than treating liberation movements as isolated chapters, “Seeds for Liberation” asks audiences to consider how movements separated by time, race and geography have influenced one another and how solidarity has continued to evolve across generations.
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#PostNewsGroup #CarlaThomas #OaklandPost #SanFranciscoPost
#SeedsForLiberation #BlackPantherPartyMuseum #Oakland #Palestine #FreePalestine #BlackLiberation #ChicanoMovement #CollectiveLiberation #SocialJustice #CommunityOrganizing #Solidarity #DocumentaryFilm #IndependentFilm #OaklandEvents #EastBay #BlackHistory #LiberationMovements #MatthewSolomon #HueyPNewtonFoundation #BayAreaEvents
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