Pochettino announced the USMNT lineup for this month’s Nations League quarterfinal against Haiti, reinstating Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Weston McKennie.
Also making the cut after a fruitful friendly stretch are several prospects such as Cavan Sullivan and Julian Hall.
Pulisic was controversially omitted from Pochettino’s first post‑World Cup squad, while Tyler Adams assumed the captaincy and steered a youthful side to a 4‑0‑0 run in home friendlies versus Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada.
Stay tuned…
Pulisic’s return sparks fresh buzz around USMNT selections.
First, the youngsters poised to become cap‑tied through the Haiti matches.
RBNY forward Julian Hall is reportedly courted by Poland; Neil Pierre could don Haiti’s jersey; Santiago Castaneda traces Colombian roots; Mathis Albert is eligible for Germany or France; Adri Mehmeti can represent Albania; Diego Kochen may choose Venezuela or Peru; and Cavan Sullivan has Bangladeshi family ties.
Two uncapped names appear: Nashville’s Reed Baker‑Whiting and Paderborn’s Castaneda.
For my money, the trio of Pulisic, McKennie and Balogun instantly upgrades the squad’s firepower.
- Pulisic has logged nine appearances for AC Milan across all competitions, netting three goals and providing nine assists.
- McKennie contributed a goal and an assist in ten matches for Juventus.
- Balogun’s delayed Monaco debut paid off with a weekend strike, his first in five Ligue 1 outings off the bench. Will his momentum carry into the Nations League showdown?
Which names fell through the cracks this time?
Absent from the earlier friendlies are Yunus Musah, Damion Downs, Cole Campbell, Brooklyn Raines, Zavier Gozo, Frankie Westfield, Peyton Miller, Miles Robinson and Chris Brady.
It’s odd that in‑form Borussia Mönchengladbach right‑back Joe Scally was ignored, and Timothy Weah remains off the list. Leeds’ Brenden Aaronson also misses out.
Johnny Cardoso of Atletico Madrid is again left out, as are Tanner Tessmann and Diego Luna. Meanwhile, Ricardo Pepi has returned from injury with PSV Eindhoven, netting over the weekend.
Championship standouts Jack McGlynn (Stoke City) and Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) were surprising omissions, and fellow Boro midfielder Max Arfsten also didn’t make the cut.
USMNT squad for the Nations League quarterfinal versus Haiti.
Goalkeepers: Matt Freese (NYCFC), Diego Kochen (Lyngby), Brian Schwake (Nashville SC)
Defenders: Reed Baker‑Whiting (Nashville SC), George Campbell (West Bromwich Albion), Sergino Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Neil Pierre (Philadelphia Union), Bryan Reynolds (Stade Rennais), 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 (New York Red Bulls), Gio Reyna (Strasbourg), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen)
Forwards: Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco), Justin Ellis (Orlando City), Julian Hall (Red Bull New York), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union)