U.S. has chance to showcase young talent

By Josh Ortega

It might not feel like it, but it’s been 74 days since the United States Men’s National Team was knocked out in the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup by Belgium in July. Now, as September wraps up, the USMNT is back on the pitch with a four-game lineup of international friendlies going into early October. 

The United States will face the likes of Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada during this fall’s international soccer cycle. U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Mauricio Pochettino named his 28-man roster for the four-game slate at training camp Wednesday, as the United States Head Coach enters his first full coaching cycle with the national team. 

The squad is a mix of familiar faces with an injection of youth, as only 13 players who participated in this summer’s tournament were named to the roster. Some of those players, like midfielder Tyler Adams, defender Sergiño Dest, defender Antonee Robinson and former FC Dallas and Texas native Ricardo Pepi, were among other veterans returning for the fall slate of games. However, there were many notable exclusions from the roster. 

USA star forward Christian Pulisic was not named to the roster due to a lower leg injury he suffered during the World Cup. The AC Milan forward has just barely begun training again at the start of August. 

The same can be said for Little Elm native and Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie as well as A.S. Monaco forward Florian Balgon, both who are nursing injuries and are absent from the roster. Nevertheless, the open spots have led to many younger players getting called up instead. 

The average age of this 28-man group is 22 years old, making the group one of the youngest groups in the federation’s history to be called up for a batch of international friendlies. Thirteen players head into these games uncapped. 

The youngest is 16-year-old midfielder Cavan Sulivan who has played in 23 games for Philadelphia Union. Sulivan leads Philadelphia in assists with 11 and has scored six goals this season in MLS. While New York Red Bulls Forward Julian Hall is the second teenager in the squad at just 18 years old. 

He comes into the national team with nine goals under his belt, the most of any Red Bull player so far this season. Among other notable young names are Borussia Dortmund winger Cole Cambell, Crystal Palace midfielder Zavier Gozo and Lyngby Boldklub defender Diego Kochen among others. 

In a statement released when the roster was announced, Pochettino expressed the team’s return to action as a “fresh start” for everyone on the roster in the new cycle of games. 

“We are excited in these first matches to bring a group of experienced players along with some young talents who have great potential,” Pochettino said in a statement released by the U.S. Soccer Federation. 

“It will be important that they all understand our culture, our way of working and, of course, the principles of how we want to play. Most importantly, they must show the commitment to representing the country in the way our fans deserve.”

Pochettino was handed a four-year contract extension in August, which will keep him as the U.S. Head Coach until the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The extension put to bed rumors and buzz that Pochettino would bet let go or leave for another club head coaching position after the tournament. 

Nevertheless, Pochettino will get a full four-year cycle until the very next World Cup to work with the second time around. This first set of friendlies for the U.S. will play crucial in the team’s preparation for the 2027 Gold Cup. The tournament was the first major tournament Pochettino managed the team in which the United States lost to Mexico in 2025. 

The U.S. will face Mexico again on October 3 in Glendale, Arizona as the penultimate game of this slate. But before that, the U.S. will host Peru this Saturday, Sept. 26 in Orlando, and Chile in St. Louis on Tuesday September 29. 

The end of the fall international break will come against Canada three days later on October 6 at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota. 

The biggest test of this window will come against Mexico and Canada at the end. Both teams will be in clear contention for the U.S. for a spot in the Gold Cup final this summer and both were two teams who left the 2026 Tournament in nice form. 

The U.S. has the chance to showcase young talent in some healthy matchups in preparation for not only this summer’s tournament but also to get the youngsters solid minutes and experience before the next World Cup.