Mauricio Pochettino names first USMNT roster: Zack Steffen returns as injured Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna miss lower

Mauricio Pochettino has named his first United States males’s nationwide staff roster for friendlies that may see the staff face Panama and Mexico. As Pochettino takes over the USMNT to cease their latest slide, preparation for the 2026 World Cup is kicking into excessive gear, however accidents will maintain key members of the participant pool out of this squad. Chris Richards, Gio Reyna, and Tyler Adams are all absent from the squad because of accidents that they’ve picked up which is able to trigger Pochettino to shuffle a number of the squad.

There may be an surprising return to the aspect in Zack Steffen. The Colorado Rapids keeper hasn’t featured for the USMNT since World Cup qualifying in March of 2022. With the goalkeeping corps in flux because of Matt Turner being on the bench at Crystal Palace, Steffen could possibly be supplied a possibility to impress Pochettino. Marlon Fossey will even stick within the squad after sturdy performances over the past worldwide break. 

“We all know Steffen and he deserves the chance to be with us. In fact, we at all times put different circumstances once we decide however I believe he deserved a possibility to be with us,” Pochettino mentioned on Steffen’s inclusion within the squad. 

It is a roster of acquainted names with solely Patrick Schulte, Auston Trusty, and Fossey having fewer than 5 caps however Pochettino continues to be getting his first likelihood to judge the participant pool earlier than Concacaf Nations League play kicks off in November. How this window goes will likely be vital as a result of as soon as Pochettino will get extra acquainted with the participant pool, adjustments may comply with. He hasn’t had a lot time simply getting his Visa this week to have the ability to fly to the US to steer this camp however issues will hopefully be smoother shifting ahead.

Roster

GOALKEEPERS (4): Ethan Horvath (Cardiff Metropolis/WAL; 9/0), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; 2/0), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids; 29/0), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace/ENG; 45/0)

DEFENDERS (8): Marlon Fossey (Customary Liege; 1/0), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo/ITA; 5/0), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/FRA; 14/0), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; 62/1), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 46/4), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 29/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach/GER; 12/0), Auston Trusty (Celtic/SCO; 2/0)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/ENG; 44/8), Gianluca Busio (Venezia/ITA; 13/1), Johnny Cardoso (Actual Betis/ESP; 17/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 56/11), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough/ENG; 7/0), Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA; 41/0), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 14/0)

FORWARDS (6): Folarin Balogun (Monaco/FRA; 17/5), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven; 30/10), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA; 73/31), Josh Sargent (Norwich Metropolis/ENG; 25/5), Timothy Weah (Juventus/ITA; 41/6), Haji Wright (Coventry Metropolis/ENG; 13/4)

Essential returns

Weston McKennie, Antonee Robinson, and Tim Weah all missed out on the final USMNT window which noticed them face Canada and New Zealand. The absences had been notable, particularly with the USMNT struggling in these matches. All three have been constant starters for the nationwide staff throughout previous years and also will should be concerned within the 2026 roster. Robinson has grow to be one of many prime left backs within the Premier League with Fulham, McKennie has damaged again into the Juventus lineup and whereas Weah has been recovering from an harm, he’s additionally in Thiago Motta’s plans at Juventus.

Change incoming?

Pochettino spoke a little bit about what may occur shifting ahead, noting that it is a very acquainted roster in comparison with rosters that the USMNT has had lately. Pochettino famous accidents as one of many explanation why he cannot experiment a ton and naturally, there are limits to the roster measurement however he confused that there are alternatives for members of the plater pool.

“We had been fascinated by some gamers. We’re following some superb gamers who should not presently within the roster however actually could possibly be within the roster sooner or later,” Pochettino mentioned on the shortage of recent faces on this roster.

One participant who got here up later in his presser was Diego Luna. The Actual Salt Lake midfielder has been making the rounds since surprisingly lacking out on the Olympic roster regardless of having six targets and eight assists in MLS play at solely 21. Pochettino famous that Luna is one for the long run however he’s very younger presently. With the wealth of youth prospects obtainable, as soon as Pocehttino is ready to determine the place he wants extra assist, that is when he can dip into the ranks and see what younger gamers can do. He is by no means been one to draw back from giving youth alternatives that they’ve earned at membership stage, so the expectation could be for that to proceed on the worldwide stage.

What to anticipate

Talking of taking part in model, Pochettino plans to make use of two techniques a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-3-3, creating the USMNT’s model from there. He needs to see how the staff adapts and creates partnerships whereas additionally taking part in entrance foot thrilling soccer. That does not imply that they will at all times be gunning for targets as a result of the protection can also be vital.

“We’ll be very demanding in that once we lose the ball we should be determined to get better it as quickly as attainable however we have to work like a staff,” Pochettino mentioned. “We have to present that we’re an actual staff, all of the groups that win or have received titles once they have the ball they’ve performed very well however once they haven’t got the ball, they work like a staff.”

His defensive ideas are easy however present what he expects from this participant pool which will likely be one thing to observe for on this upcoming window.

“We have to get pleasure from defending as a result of we should be a staff who would not concede many targets,” Pochettino mentioned.

In the event that they do this, they do not lose to Canada or draw New Zealand within the earlier window.