Four USMNT Stars Pochettino Must Keep on His Radar Before Fall Roster Announcement

U.S. men's national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino faces a significant challenge ahead. Having called upon more than 80 players during his first 20 months in charge in the buildup to the 2026 World Cup, there's little question he'll leave no stone unturned in assembling the ideal squad to launch the USMNT's new four-year cycle.

U.S. Soccer confirmed that Pochettino will unveil his roster for four upcoming friendlies against Chile, Peru, Canada and Mexico on Wednesday, with the selection expected to be larger than usual, blending experienced veterans with emerging talent, including 16-year-old rising star Cavan Sullivan.

Here are four key players Pochettino shouldn't overlook when finalizing his fall squad.

Yunus Musah (AC Milan)

Yunus Musah is back to his finest form.

Once a regular fixture for the USMNT under former boss Gregg Berhalter, the midfielder gradually lost his place in the rotation due to limited playing time at club level.

However, he is now back to featuring consistently for AC Milan, flourishing under new head coach Ruben Amorim and has even stepped up as the club's standout American player, given Christian Pulisic's difficulty securing minutes. It was somewhat unexpected to see Musah play such a central role early in the new season, forming a midfield double-pivot alongside the evergreen Luka Modrić, accumulating 315 minutes across four appearances.

"[Amorim] puts me in the right positions for me to play well. There weren't many coaches who would have chosen me, but I'm happy that he arrived and that he has given me this opportunity," Musah said. "This start to the season has been great for me. I'm coming off a tough year, so I'm happy. It helps me a lot that Amorim has clear ideas for me on the pitch, which helps me express myself at my best."

Despite accumulating 47 caps and considerable experience at both club and international level, Musah is still just 23 years old and could realistically participate in two or three more World Cup cycles, set to be only 27 in 2030 and 31 in 2034.

While Malik Tillman, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams are projected to anchor Pochettino's central midfield, Musah has a strong case for providing valuable depth in the middle of the park and could push for greater responsibility over the coming four years. At minimum, he warrants serious consideration and has demonstrated that with confidence and clear direction, he can make a real impact.

Josh Sargent (Toronto FC)

Much like Musah, Sargent brings a wealth of USMNT experience to the table.

The Toronto FC forward, who has earned 29 caps, appeared at the 2022 World Cup under Berhalter; however, he hasn't received a call-up since last September, hasn't found the net for the national team since 2021 and has slipped well down the depth chart, largely due to his struggles in front of goal on international duty.

The past year has been difficult for Sargent. Once transfer speculation linking him to Toronto FC and MLS began to circulate, he was effectively frozen out of Norwich City's plans and relegated to training with the academy. Following his club-record $21.5 million move to Toronto, he battled injuries and poor form as an isolated forward under manager Robin Fraser.

Yet, the tide has turned over the past month. Toronto look revitalized with Sargent back to full fitness, and the summer arrival of former Bundesliga midfielder Niklas Dorsch has freed Sargent to concentrate on scoring rather than dropping deep to support. Those changes have translated into four goals and an assist across four matches, and his renewed confidence places him among the top American strikers in MLS.

Factor in Folarin Balogun's extended absence following his turbulent transfer saga, along with Haji Wright's injury, and the timing may be ideal to give Sargent another opportunity.

Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United)

Brenden Aaronson may have featured for just 77 minutes at the World Cup in the dead-rubber defeat to Türkiye, but he has channeled those experiences into a strong opening to the Premier League campaign with Leeds United.

Operating in a more central role than previously while retaining the flexibility to move into wider positions, the midfielder/winger registered four goal contributions across four preseason friendlies and has since started two of Leeds' three Premier League fixtures this season. Aaronson recently netted his first competitive goal of the campaign against Chelsea in a 6–3 Carabao Cup third-round defeat.

While he isn't turning heads with extraordinary form, he still merits a call from Pochettino. He is consistently performing in the world's most competitive league and has cemented himself as an important figure in manager Daniel Farke's setup. Though he couldn't break into Pochettino's regular World Cup starting lineup this summer, he appears ready to take on greater responsibility at international level.

Brian Schwake (Nashville SC)

Many questions linger over the future of USMNT goalkeeping. New York City FC's Matt Freese cemented himself as the number one option under Pochettino but had some uncertain moments at the World Cup. Furthermore, he will be 31 by the time the next tournament arrives. Matt Turner, a long-serving starter in goal, played in the defeat to Türkiye, but he is already 32 years old. That age concern may prove difficult to overcome, despite him being one of MLS's finest goalkeepers at present.

Pochettino has the opportunity to assess two younger shot-stoppers. Look for 22-year-old Chicago Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady, who served as the third-choice keeper at the World Cup, to receive more playing time at this camp, while Nashville SC's 25-year-old Brian Schwake could earn his first USMNT call-up.

Schwake has been outstanding this season, helping carry Nashville to the top of the Supporters' Shield standings. He has recorded a combined 75 saves across 25 appearances, posted 11 clean sheets and earned an MLS All-Star selection alongside only Freese and Canada's World Cup goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau. Nashville, under former USMNT interim boss B.J. Callaghan, has been the league's most defensively solid side, conceding just 21 goals in 25 games, and the 6'2" Schwake leads MLS with a 78.1% save percentage.

Given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the USMNT's goalkeeping situation, Pochettino would be wise to hand opportunities to uncapped, in-form players, and few are more deserving of that chance than Schwake.