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Mauricio Pochettino, head coach of the US men’s national team, called on several backers for the Concacaf Nations League quarter-final against Jamaica, which will be the team’s first competitive matches since Pochettino took the job.
Christian Pulisic and Timothy Weah lead the way with a veteran-heavy squad that is quite similar to the one that featured in Pochettino’s first matches last month, a win over Panama and a loss to Mexico. Weah will work with the new head coach for the first time after missing October’s matches with a minor injury, although Pochettino will be without a number of high-profile players such as Gio Reyna, Josh Sargent and Folarin Balogun, who will miss this month’s matches will miss with injuries of their own.
The USMNT first plays Jamaica at Kingston’s Independence Park on November 14 before hosting them at St. Louis’ Energizer Park four days later.
Here’s a closer look at the selection.
USMNT roster
GOALKEEPS (4): Diego Kochen (FC Barcelona Atletic/ESP; 0/0), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; 2/0), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids; 29/0), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace/ENG; 47/0)
DEFENDERS (7): Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/FRA; 15/0), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; 64/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 23/1) Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 48/4), Miles Robinson ( FC Cincinnati; 30/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 17/0), Auston Trusty (Celtic/SCO; 3/0)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/ENG; 46/8), Gianluca Busio (Venezia/ITA; 15/1), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis/ESP; 17/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 56/11), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough/ENG; 9/0), Yunus Musah (AC Milan; ITA; 43/1), Tanner Tessmann (Olympique Lyon/FRA; 4/0), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 16/0)
FORWARD (6): Cade Cowell (Guadalajara/MEX; 10/1), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 31/11), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA; 74/31), Brandon Vazquez (Monterrey/MEX; 9/4), Tim Weah (Juventus/ITA; 41/6), Alex Zendejas (Club América/MEX; 9/1)
Injuries influence the selection
Weah is back in the mix for the first time after being late for October’s friendlies, and the same goes for Chris Richards and Johnny Cardoso. Notably, Weah will be unavailable for Thursday’s match in Jamaica as he serves the final match of the suspension he earned during the Copa America group stage. He will remain with the team in Orlando until they leave for Kingston on Wednesday, then meet them in St. Louis when they return to the US on Friday.
However, several notable players are still out of the picture: Balogun and Reyna are missing camp for the second month in a row, while Sargent recently underwent surgery on a groin injury that will keep him out for two months. Haji Wright was also a last-minute scratch from the team, according to Pochettino.
Midfielder Tyler Adams has finally returned from a back injury with a string of games for Bournemouth, including his first start this season in Saturday’s defeat to Brentford. However, he has not been included in the squad as the Nations League quarter-finals come too early for him, although Pochettino admitted he is a big fan of the midfielder.
‘We know very well that we have to take care of him [him] in the best condition for 2026,” he said at a press conference on Sunday. “I know him very well because I think it is public that we wanted to sign him from Chelsea. When we arrived in Chelsea, I remember we had a conversation in the US, in Chicago. We knew it and then the club didn’t sign him because he was injured. That’s why in the end we can’t but we already know and we know how important but we have to provide him with a good platform to get [to] his best.”
Coming and going
Pochettino rewarded Tanner Tessman, Brandon Vazquez and Alex Zendejas with call-ups this time after the trio maxed out their minutes last month, which was especially impressive considering they were last-minute additions to the squad in October. They aren’t the only fringe players who deserve a vote of confidence by being selected for this month’s matches; forward Cade Cowell and goalkeeper Diego Kochen will also get their first appearance from Pochettino.
The new head coach did choose to leave some players at home after seeing them a month ago. Goalkeeper Ethan Horvath was excluded from the squad this month, as were defenders Marlon Fossey and Kristoffer Lund. The exclusions of Fossey and Lund technically leave the USMNT a bit short in their fullback positions, with only Antonee Robinson and Joe Scally looking obvious options there. Pochettino said he made that decision because he wanted more midfielders and forwards in the squad, but also because he felt the team had options elsewhere.
“I think today, in football in recent years, you see teams like Manchester City, Arsenal and Company, I think we can see that a central defender can play as a full-back,” he said. “Tim Ream, yesterday [in Charlotte FC’s MLS Cup Playoffs game against Orlando City]played as a fullback. For me he is a central defender, but he played as a left wing-back. He can play. Depends on the dynamics of the game… I think we can all agree that Yunus Musah can play fullback, maybe right back. Against Real Madrid [in Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League match]he performed fantastically and they won the match [AC] Milan. I think he is also a player who can perform there, can play.”