Headline: U.S. National Team Welcomes Key Players Back for Nations League Quarterfinals Against Haiti
The U.S. national team is set to welcome Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, and Weston McKennie back to the squad for the first time since the World Cup. The trio joins a youthful team that recently showcased impressive performances in four friendly matches this fall.
Previously excluded from the roster due to recent injuries and coach Mauricio Pochettino’s focus on evaluating younger talent, these veteran players were among 25 selected on Wednesday to compete in the two-leg CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals against Haiti.
Training camp kicks off on Monday at the national training center near Atlanta, preceding matches scheduled for November 14 in Miami and November 17 in Cincinnati.
This marks the first outing for Pulisic, Balogun, and McKennie since the World Cup round of 16, where they faced Belgium. In that match, Balogun played despite having been issued a red card in the previous stage against Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Pulisic exited early due to a microfracture in his tibia and fibula.
Following their returns to full fitness, both Pulisic and Balogun made notable contributions in their club matches last weekend. Pulisic netted the opening goal in AC Milan’s 3-1 victory over Inter Milan, while Balogun scored as a substitute during Monaco’s 3-1 defeat to Paris FC.
Pochettino has also retained 19 players from the September-October camp, which included victories over Peru, Chile, Mexico, and Canada.
Among the six additional players joining the squad this month, Nashville’s Reed Baker-Whiting and Paderborn’s Santiago Castañeda received their first senior camp invitations. Additionally, Rennes’ Bryan Reynolds looks to make his first appearance for the national team since 2023.
The senior squad will train concurrently with an under-23 team that is preparing for the 2028 Olympic Games, along with an accompanying under-20 camp.
In the prior camp, Pochettino had called up a dozen Olympic-eligible players for senior action. For the upcoming Haiti matches, he will retain seven of those players, including teenage forwards Cavan Sullivan, Julian Hall, and Justin Ellis. Others are expected to participate in junior camps, with roster details to be disclosed later this week.
“We are excited to bring this group together at the beginning of our journey in this important competition,” Pochettino stated. “These players have earned the opportunity to compete and help achieve our main objective, which is to win and advance in the tournament.”
Pochettino is poised to further discuss the roster later Wednesday morning.
Notably absent from the squad is AC Milan midfielder Yunus Musah, along with several World Cup participants, including winger Tim Weah, attacker Brenden Aaronson, center back Mark McKenzie, right back Joe Scally, and goalkeeper Matt Turner. Ricardo Pepi, despite a strong showing as a sub for PSV Eindhoven, also did not receive a call-up due to ongoing rehabilitation from a prior injury. Additionally, in-form Stoke City winger Jack McGlynn was overlooked.
As a three-time champion, the U.S. team has consistently reached the Nations League semifinals since the tournament’s inception in 2019. The first leg of the quarterfinals will occur in Miami due to security concerns in Haiti.
USMNT roster for Nations League quarterfinals
Goalkeepers: Matt Freese (New York City FC), Diego Kochen (Lyngby), Brian Schwake (Nashville SC).
Defenders: Reed Baker-Whiting (Nashville SC), George Campbell (West Brom), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Neil Pierre (Philadelphia Union), Bryan Reynolds (Rennes), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Auston Trusty (Celtic).
Midfielders: Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Mathis Albert (Borussia Dortmund), Sebastian Berhalter (Middlesbrough), Santiago Castañeda (Paderborn), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Adri Mehmeti (Red Bull New York), Gio Reyna (Strasbourg Alsace), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen).
Forwards: Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Justin Ellis (Orlando City), Julian Hall (Red Bull New York), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union).
