'In-tune and More Focused:' What's Standing Out to Teammates About Gio Reyna?

CHESTER, Penn.  – It’s been almost seven months since Gio Reyna was last with the U.S. men’s national team. What are the attacking midfielder's teammates saying about how he has looked? 

"I feel like he's more in-tune and more focused on the field than I've seen in the past, which is a great thing," defender Tim Ream told the throng of reporters at the USMNT's training session on a brisk fall Friday outside of Philadelphia.

It's fútbol weather in the Philly area ahead of the USMNT's game on Saturday (Getty Images)

Reyna has spent much of the past two European seasons either injured or on the bench. It's now two years removed from his standout performance in the 2024 Concacaf Nations League final, when his second-half goal sealed the Americans' third consecutive title in that event. 

The 22-year-old one-time prodigy is now working his way into the fold to be considered for manager Mauricio Pochettino’s roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Reyna will get a chance to prove that in Saturday's friendly against Paraguay, followed by Tuesday's match against Uruguay in what should be a balmier setting in Tampa. 

"I'm looking forward to playing with Gio," U.S. striker Folarin Balogun said, who scored his first international goal on an assist by Reyna in the 2023 Nations League final win over Canada.

"I think me and him have a great connection, and he's a sort of player as a striker, you want someone like him providing creativity behind you. … As he has shown in training already, [Reyna can] make a good impact and help us in both games."

Reyna’s inclusion on Pochettino’s November roster last week raised eyebrows, given that the silky attacking midfielder has yet to start a game for Borussia Mönchengladbach since signing with the