'Turn the Talking into Action:' Gio Reyna Eyes World Cup with U.S. Men's Team

Gio Reyna went into the 2022 World Cup as one of United States' brightest young soccer stars. Controversy over his training effort and a family conflict with the team's then-coach overshadowed his performances.

A World Cup on U.S. soil next year is a guiding light for the 22-year-old Reyna to revive a career dogged by injuries.

Reyna says he’d now handle the 2022 incident differently "in certain ways" and his actions stemmed from frustration, but the dispute wasn't "completely" his fault or that of his family.

Speaking to The Associated Press at his new club Borussia Mönchengladbach last week, the attacking midfielder wants to use this season to convince U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino he still belongs.

"I do obviously think about (the World Cup) pretty often as it’s somewhere where I need and want to be," he said. "But I try to focus daily here, stay present here, work here every day, and hopefully believe everything will fall into place."

Gio Reyna, who was part of the 2022 squad, is trying to get back into the mix for 2026. (Photo by John Todd/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

In Qatar in 2022, Reyna played only twice off the bench. Then-U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said after the tournament that an unnamed player, later identified as Reyna, was nearly sent home for a lack of effort in training.

Reyna's parents — Claudio and Danielle Reyna, both former national team players — lobbied the U.S. Soccer Federation for more playing time for Gio and contacted the USSF about a three-decades-old domestic violence allegation involving Berhalter and the woman who later became his wife — Danielle’s former college roommate.

Asked if he'd do things differently if he had that chance again, Reyna told the AP: "Maybe in certain ways, but I’m