Mauricio Pochettino has unveiled a largely youthful USMNT roster for the upcoming friendlies, packing four opponents into just 11 days thanks to FIFA’s new window format. Will these fresh faces spark a new era for Team USA?
All four matches stay on U.S. soil, yet the squad will criss‑cross the country, stopping in Florida, Missouri, Arizona and Minnesota to meet eager fans.
USMNT fixtures for September and October 2026
The September‑October international break features the following fixtures for the United States.
- Sep. 26, 4:30 p.m. ET: USMNT vs. Peru, Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, Florida
- Sep. 29, 8:00 p.m. ET: USMNT vs. Chile, Energizer Park, St. Louis, Missouri
- Oct. 3, 9:00 p.m. ET USMNT vs. Mexico, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
- Oct. 6, 8:00 p.m. ET: USMNT vs. Canada, Allianz Field, St. Paul, Minnesota Will these tests shape a squad ready to contend on the world stage in 2028 and beyond?
Pochettino leans on youth
In my view, Pochettino’s experimental approach is essential as the team gears up for the 2028 Olympics, Copa América, the 2029 Gold Cup and the 2030 World Cup.
Out of the 28 players named, twelve have never earned a senior cap, including breakout teen Cavan Sullivan and fellow youngsters Julian Hall, Zavier Gozo, Neil Pierre and Mathis Albert.
Veterans Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna, Sergiño Dest, Chris Richards, Miles Robinson, Malik Tillman and Yunus Musah will shepherd the newcomers, while notable absentees such as Christian Pulisic linger on the sidelines.
‘Captain America’ has logged only 90 minutes this season, a half‑match in each of AC Milan’s recent games. Likewise, Folarin Balogun remains sidelined by a knee issue, though he’s now back in first‑team training.
Pochettino could easily slot them into a competitive lineup, but he prefers to use the four friendlies as a laboratory for evaluating other fit, promising players.
A slew of notable absences
In addition, injuries keep Weston McKennie, Diego Luna, Alex Zendejas, Patrick Agyemang and Hadji Wright out of the squad.
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