Mauricio Pochettino has selected his 25-man roster for the United States’ Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals against Haiti, including recalls of Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Folarin Balogun. After 13 players earned their first caps in the previous window, only two caps could be in contention for their international debuts this month.
The home-and-away series against Haiti marks the first competition for the United States since exiting the World Cup with a disastrous performance against Belgium in the round of 16. Pochettino’s side are heavily favored to win the Nations League, arriving fitter and healthier than their main rivals Mexico and Canada. Haiti will host its “home” match in Miami on November 14 due to years-long security concerns stemming from widespread gang violence in Port-au-Prince. The return match will be played in Cincinnati on November 17.
“It is very important for us to add options, more players having the opportunity to challenge familiar faces,” Pochettino told a press conference on Wednesday. “They deserve the opportunity to be with us, for us to feel them and for them to see how they can feel in the national team. It’s a very good camp window now for these guys, to give them the opportunity. It’s very open.”
Goalkeepers
Matt Freese (New York City FC; 20/0), Diego Kochen (Lyngby Boldklub; 2/0), Brian Schwake (Nashville SC; 2/0)
None of Pochettino’s selections in goal are a real surprise. Freese has been in the mix for a long time, Kochen got the nod against Mexico last window and acquitted himself quite well, and many would consider Schwake the best goalkeeper in Major League Soccer.
Despite the predictability, there is intrigue. The United States still lacks a containment guardian, leaving the position wide open for now, as it apparently has for years. Others also continue to battle for minutes – among them New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner. Turner, who is not on this list and has seemingly drifted out of the US goalkeeping pool, is in the midst of a strong run of form in MLS.
Defenders
Reed Baker-Whiting (Nashville SC; 0/0), George Campbell (West Bromwich Albion; 3/0), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven; 46/3), Alex Freeman (Villarreal; 26/3), Neil Pierre (Philadelphia Union; 3/0), Bryan Reynolds (Stade Rennais; 7/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace; 43/4), Antonee Robinson (Fulham; 62/5), Auston Trusty (Celtic; 14/1)
This group is a mix of experience and new options as Pochettino and his team build a new defensive core. Reed Baker-Whiting is in line for his U.S. debut after a regular season starting at left back for the top team in MLS. Featured on the Guardian’s Next Generation list in 2022, the 21-year-old made a smooth transition to Nashville after a winter transfer from his childhood days in Seattle and is a steady defender who fits quickly into a system. He will replace Antonee Robinson, who featured in all but one of Fulham’s first nine games.
Bryan Reynolds is part of his first American team since the 2023 Gold Cup, having joined Rennes this summer. He will train alongside Villarreal’s ever-rising star Alex Freeman; notably, Sergiño Dest figures among the defenders after spending most of his time in the final window on the wing.
George Campbell and Neil Pierre will look to build on their performances in the September/October window, while Chris Richards and Auston Trusty look to be the first-choice initial partnership for the cycle.
midfielder
Tyler Adams (Bournemouth; 62/2), Mathis Albert (Borussia Dortmund; 4/1), Sebastian Berhalter (Middlesbrough; 22/4), Santiago Castañeda (SC Paderborn; 0/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus; 71/12), Adri Mehmeti (Red Bull New York; 3/0), Gio Reyna (Strasbourg; 47/10), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen; 39/7)
Santiago Castañeda is the latest new face introduced into a large and talented collective of American midfielders. The 21-year-old, a ball player with great positional awareness, quickly moved to the Bundesliga with newly promoted Paderborn. He will be the main alternative to Tyler Adams, who is now in his second camp as national team captain and a vital cog for Bournemouth.
Sebastian Berhalter has had as good a 2026 as any American player, continuing to go from strength to strength at the heart of Middlesbrough. He has become an ever-present for Pochettino, often the first man off the bench if not in the starting lineup. Weston McKennie returns after missing the last window due to fatigue, having featured in Juventus’ last six Serie A matches and captaining two of their Europa League matches.
Adri Mehmeti and Mathis Albert also return after their debuts last window. Malik Tillman and Gio Reyna will be the main string pullers progressing from midfield to the final third. Reyna is finally enjoying first-choice status in his first season with Strasbourg, while Tillman faces increasing scrutiny for his poor performances with Leverkusen.
Attackers
Folarin Balogun (Monaco; 31/12), Justin Ellis (Orlando City; 3/2), Julian Hall (Red Bull New York; 4/3), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan; 90/33), Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union; 3/1)
Ellis, Hall and Sullivan earned deserved encores after standout performances in September and October. Pochettino particularly praised Hall, a dual Polish-American national who scored in each of his first three games for the United States.
“Julian is a player who fully deserves, after the last camp with us – four games, his performance, his behavior, it is without a doubt for me to repeat the call-up,” Pochettino said. “I don’t know what he said (about choosing the United States over Poland), because I didn’t hear, but when he was with us, he was really excited to play for us, to play for the badge, to play for the United States. That’s what’s important to us, what matters. At the end of the day, the most important thing is the way he plays, he acts, his commitment.”
Balogun’s place on the list has never been in doubt, as the Monaco striker continues to bounce back from this summer’s World Cup and the transfer drama that followed. On Sunday, the 25-year-old ended a four-month goal drought dating back to his World Cup round of 16 goal against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ricardo Pepi, who scored a goal and an assist for PSV last weekend on his return from injury, was not selected for this window. Pochettino said Pepi is not fully fit and will continue to get back into shape with his club.
“It’s a great opportunity to continue to help (Balogun) develop after a difficult summer after the World Cup. That’s why I think there is) a balance because Justin and Julian are in great shape. That’s why we didn’t bring in, even though he played a few minutes last week, Ricardo Pepi,” Pochettino said. “We decided it was much better to keep him in training and establish himself, being more solid in his physical condition and being more confident to attack the future. That’s why we didn’t want to bring both (Balogun and Pepi), because I think both are not 100%.”
The inclusion of Pulisic, who was ruled out of the United States’ series of matches in September and October as he continues to recover from his leg injury suffered at the World Cup, is also not surprising. Pulisic has since largely returned to form for Milan and has been rewarded with a new contract; However, his place in this American group remains more murky than ever, as do the complications of his relationship with Pochettino. A remarkable performance in this window would go a long way to silencing any questions about Pulisic’s form and commitment to the national team.
Gn sports
