After the recent September‑October break, Pochettino’s roster heads to the Nations League quarter‑finals versus Haiti on Nov. 14 and 17, mixing rested regulars with fresh faces like Cavan Sullivan and Julian Hall.
Injury woes linger for Miles Robinson, Johnny Cardoso and Ricardo Pepi, while Tim Weah and Yunus Musah may lose spots as youngsters step in. Pochettino noted Pepi and Balogun aren’t fully fit, prompting calls for Justin Ellis and Hall to earn minutes against Haiti.
Uncapped talent also arrives: Reed Baker‑Whiting seeks his first cap, and Paderborn midfielder Santiago Castaneda – eligible for Colombia – has been rewarded for his stellar play in the German Bundesliga.
With Pulisic, Sebastian Berhalter and Gio Reyna in fine form, the attack will dominate. Yet defensive shape remains a question as the coach blends the World Cup core with the next generation in competitive matches.
Pochettino emphasized balance, hinting at intriguing lineup tweaks as youth joins established names. If a U‑23 player fits the senior vision, he’ll earn a spot alongside the veterans.
“We must constantly inject fresh ideas and create new patterns with the ball,” Pochettino said. “Our priority is possession, but when we lose it we need swift organization to recover. This roster offers a chance to test chemistry, especially between Christian and Matías, both newcomers together. We’ll gauge their link on and off the field starting Monday.”
Call it What You Want: A weekly podcast where Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies and Tony Meola cover all things USMNT and the state of the beautiful game in the United States. Catch the show YouTube live every Tuesday and Friday at 10 a.m. ET.
Roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): Matt Freese (New York City FC; 20/0), Diego Kochen (Lyngby Boldklub/DEN; 2/0), Brian Schwake (Nashville SC; 2/0)
DEFENDERS (9): Reed Baker-Whiting (Nashville SC; 0/0), George Campbell (West Bromwich Albion FC/ENG; 3/0), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 46/3), Alex Freeman (Villarreal/ESP; 26/3), Neil Pierre (Philadelphia Union; 3/0), Bryan Reynolds (Stade Rennais/FRA; 7/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 43/4), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 62/5), Auston Trusty (Celtic/SCO; 14/1)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth/ENG; 62/2), Mathis Albert (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 4/1), Sebastian Berhalter (Middlesbrough/ENG; 22/4), Santiago Castañeda (SC Paderborn/GER; 0/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 71/12), Adri Mehmeti (Red Bull New York; 3/0), Gio Reyna (RC Strasbourg Alsace/FRA; 47/10), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen/GER; 39/7)
FORWARDS (5): Folarin Balogun (Monaco/FRA; 31/12), Justin Ellis (Orlando City SC; 3/2), Julian Hall (Red Bull New York; 4/3), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA; 90/33), Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union; 3/1)
The camp of Julian Hall?
Pulisic, fresh off a new Milan contract and two goals in his last three games, shares the spotlight with MLS scorer Balogun, who’s struggled for minutes at Monaco. Hall’s 13 MLS goals and three for the national team suggest he’ll add firepower against Haiti, while Balogun’s fitness could see him back on the pitch after a turbulent summer.
In my view, the forward line looks promising and could be the X‑factor in the upcoming ties.
“Balogun offers a great chance to develop after a tough post‑World Cup summer. That’s why the balance is there, with Justin and Julian fully fit,” Pochettino explained. “We left Ricardo out despite recent minutes because neither is at 100 %. The mix of Balogun, Ellis and Hall feels perfect.”
Haiti will test who can handle Concacaf pressure, shaping the path for U‑23 hopefuls and senior regulars alike.