Mauricio Pochettino has unveiled his squad for the upcoming September international break. The United States men`s national team is scheduled to host South Korea and Japan in friendly matches during this period. These games are a vital part of their World Cup preparations, especially as they face two nations that have already qualified for next summer`s tournament. Following their disappointing performance in the Concacaf Nations League and a defeat to Mexico in the Gold Cup final, significant pressure will be on the USMNT to deliver strong results. This pressure is particularly notable for Christian Pulisic, who rejoins the national team after opting out of the Gold Cup to rest and recuperate.
While Pulisic makes his return, not all established stars are back in the lineup. Notably, Weston McKennie was not called up for these fixtures. McKennie missed the Gold Cup due to Club World Cup commitments with Juventus, but the 26-year-old boasts 60 caps for the national team and had been a regular presence, not missing a standard camp in a considerable time. Forward Folarin Balogun also received no call-up, with Josh Sargent of Norwich City stepping back into the striker role. Pochettino explained McKennie`s exclusion by stating he is well aware of the midfielder`s capabilities and acknowledged that McKennie had a disrupted preseason because of the Club World Cup. He emphasized the importance of player performance but indicated that this decision does not preclude McKennie`s future involvement with the national team.
Goalkeepers Matt Turner and Zack Steffen were also omitted from the squad; Matt Freese is the sole goalkeeper with a senior cap included. Pochettino plans to extensively explore the player pool during this September window, as four players could potentially earn their first USMNT caps, and nine players in total have fewer than 10 international appearances. This aligns with Pochettino`s ongoing strategy to evaluate all available options ahead of the World Cup, although it does raise questions about when he intends to finalize a core squad. Pochettino offered some insight into his roster selection philosophy when discussing the team.
“For me, all the players are important. The individual situations are important, and to analyze and make the decisions and have a plan for them. We have a roster of 65 players that we`re going to be assessing every week and it`s for them to perform and for us to select the best players to make a roster with a good balance,” Pochettino stated.
“We don`t have much time because we started last October and it has been less than one year and I think for us it`s important to get a chance to work with the players because we know what some players can provide and now is a chance for different players like Sebastian Berhalter or Luca De La Torre.”
With just 289 days until the 2026 World Cup kicks off in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the squad remains far from settled. However, this camp will be instrumental in determining which players have a real chance to secure a spot in a more stable roster. While some regulars like Sergino Dest, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Tyler Adams, and Pulisic are present, the significant rotation in key positions could make developing strong team chemistry challenging.
Full Roster
- GOALKEEPERS (3): Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati; 0/0), Matt Freese (New York City FC; 7/0), Jonathan Klinsmann (Cesena/ITA; 0/0)
- DEFENDERS (8): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew; 10/1), Noahkai Banks (FC Augsburg/GER; 0/0), Tristan Blackmon (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 0/0), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 33/2), Alex Freeman (Orlando City; 7/0), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union; 1/0), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; 74/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 31/3)
- MIDFIELDERS (6): Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/ENG; 50/2), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 6/0), Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC; 31/1), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; 12/3), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo; 11/2), Sean Zawadzki (Columbus Crew; 1/0)
- FORWARDS (5): Damion Downs (Southampton/ENG; 5/0), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA; 78/32) Josh Sargent (Norwich/ENG; 28/5), Tim Weah (Marseille/FRA; 44/7), Alex Zendejas (Club América/MEX; 11/1)
Squad Rotation Insights
Only six players from the current roster were part of the 2022 World Cup squad for the USMNT. Pochettino has consistently demonstrated his willingness to call upon any player he deems suitable for the team and is not afraid to make tough decisions. However, such extensive changes so close to the World Cup might seem perplexing to some. Some new additions, such as Alex Freeman, have shown readiness for the USMNT level in their brief appearances, while others, like returning player Alex Zendejas, have faced difficulties during the current season. Zendejas has not scored for Club América since their opening match of the season but will have an opportunity to prove his worth for a World Cup spot.
Pochettino repeatedly emphasized that this window represents the final opportunity to delve deeply into the player pool. This makes the composition of the October international window roster, when the USMNT will face Ecuador and Australia, particularly intriguing, as it will likely offer a clearer picture of the World Cup squad.
Sergiño Dest Returns to Action
Set to make his first appearance for the USMNT since March 2024, Sergiño Dest`s return to camp is a welcome development. He has successfully recovered from his ACL tear and is back playing for PSV, and now rejoins the national team. Dest was initially called up for the Gold Cup but was deemed not fully ready to contribute and was sent back to his club. His presence under Pochettino, whom he has yet to play for, will be crucial, as his playing style perfectly complements Pochettino`s vision for fullbacks. Dest`s ability to push high up the pitch and overlap with Tim Weah could create valuable space for Pulisic, a dynamic that has been less evident recently. This camp comes too soon for Antonee Robinson, who is also regaining his fitness. However, once the USMNT can field both starting fullbacks, it will significantly boost their attack and provide defensive stability while the goalkeeper situation is being resolved.
