Pochettino Invites Young Talent for U.S. Men’s National Team’s Nations League Campaign
Mauricio Pochettino has expanded his U.S. player pool this fall by calling up nearly a dozen young players for a series of friendlies. Many performed impressively, earning callbacks on Wednesday for the Nations League quarterfinals, despite the availability of most veterans for the first official matches since the World Cup and a concurrent youth-specific Olympic camp.
Cavan Sullivan, Julian Hall, Justin Ellis, Mathis Albert, Adri Mehmeti, Neil Pierre, and Diego Kochen all parlayed their efforts in September and October into November invitations for the Nations League quarterfinals.
Advertisement
Average age: 18.1.
“We are playing now an official game [and] the priority always is for the first team,” Pochettino noted on Wednesday. “And because we all believe that if the players are involved with the first team, [there] is the possibility to keep growing and of course adding more experience — and good experience. It’s easy.”
The U.S. will begin workouts Monday at the national training center near Atlanta in preparation for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals against Haiti. The first leg, effectively Haiti’s “home” match, is set for Nov. 14 in Miami, followed by the decisive match on Nov. 17 in Cincinnati.
Pochettino also brought in three outside players: Midfielder Santiago Castañeda, 21, and defender Reed Baker-Whiting, 21, will take part in their first senior camp, while defender Bryan Reynolds, 25, aims to make his first appearance for the U.S. since 2023.
Advertisement
“Now it’s a moment we need to add players to the roster to try to provide a good balance to the team,” Pochettino remarked regarding the 2030 World Cup cycle. “It’s a great opportunity for different players now, and … to have the possibility to mix younger with experienced players.”
Cavan Sullivan is among seven young USMNT prospects who earned another call-up after impressing during the team’s four-game winning streak earlier this fall.
(Taylor Banner/USSF via Getty Images)
This young talent influx coincides with the omission of seasoned players such as Tim Weah, Brenden Aaronson, Matt Turner, and Joe Scally. Yunus Musah also did not receive a call-up after participating in recent friendlies.
The selections also provide backup for experienced players returning from injuries, including Ricardo Pepi, Haji Wright, Alex Zendejas, and Miles Robinson.
Advertisement
The veteran core remains intact, with World Cup participants Tyler Adams, Malik Tillman, Gio Reyna, Sebastian Berhalter, Chris Richards, Alex Freeman, Antonee Robinson, Sergiño Dest, Auston Trusty, and Matt Freese returning to camp after the September-October window.
Pochettino also re-invited Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, and Weston McKennie for their first appearances since the World Cup.
The U.S. has reached the Nations League’s final four in each of the previous four editions, which also serves as qualifying for next summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup. The final four event is slated for late March at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Due to the importance of the Nations League, Pochettino plans to experiment less than he did during friendly matches against Peru, Chile, Mexico, and Canada. Retaining several young players demonstrates his confidence in new talents while signaling to the veteran players that roster spots are not guaranteed.
Advertisement
Pochettino emphasizes the need to see how well younger and older players interact during training camp. He said, “It’s important always to try to add new ideas, new ways to try to perform and to create different patterns on the field with the ball. We are going to start to see the chemistry off the field, but also on the field — that is really important too, and try to see how that works.”
Mathis Albert (R) could get his first opportunity to play alongside Christian Pulisic as Mauricio Pochettino looks to build chemistry between the USMNT’s rising stars and established veterans.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Pochettino highlighted the chance for players like Albert, a quick winger, to work with Pulisic and for Sullivan, a clever attacker, to team up with McKennie for the first time. “It’s a great opportunity to test the feelings and the chemistry between them,” he indicated.
Advertisement
While seven prospects from the previous camp will stay for this camp, others are expected to join the under-23 squad for an overseas camp and friendlies: Zavier Gozo, Brooklyn Raines, Peyton Miller, Frankie Westfield, and Cole Campbell.
U.S. under-23 coach Steve Cherundolo is beginning preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, which will be an under-23 tournament with three overage player exceptions. He plans to conduct camps throughout most international windows for the next 18 months. Additionally, the U.S. under-20s will gather next week at the Georgia headquarters.
Pochettino expressed eagerness to reunite with Balogun, who was the U.S. top scorer at the World Cup. Balogun faced controversy after a red-card suspension was annulled by FIFA; U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned he had contacted FIFA regarding the suspension.
The red card does not carry over after the World Cup, but FIFA placed Balogun on a one-year probation, during which the suspension “remains dormant … and will only be activated if he commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during that one-year period.”
Advertisement
Earlier this summer, Balogun was involved in further controversy when he canceled a transfer from Monaco to Everton at the last minute. An injury has kept him sidelined from Monaco’s starting lineup. Recently, he scored his first goal since the World Cup as a substitute.
“It is a great opportunity to keep helping him to evolve after a tough summer after the World Cup,” Pochettino stated. “The combination [at striker] between Balo, Ellis, and Hall is perfect.”
USMNT notes
Center back George Campbell, who participated in the last camp, was named to the squad again despite reportedly suffering a groin injury while captaining second-tier English club West Brom.
Advertisement
“We are waiting on more information,” Pochettino remarked. “Today or tomorrow we will have everything. If that is not positive, we already are thinking [of a] different option.”
French-based Mark McKenzie is a leading candidate to fill in.
