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Soccer supporters throughout the United States became familiar with the 26 players who donned the red, white and blue this summer, but fresh faces are set to join the squad when it reassembles this month for four friendly fixtures.
Scheduled to take on Chile, Peru, Canada and Mexico in their first outings since being eliminated in the round of 16 at the World Cup, the USMNT will aim to launch a new chapter while holding onto some of the momentum generated over the summer.
On Thursday, head coach Mauricio Pochettino will announce his roster, which is anticipated to feature some unfamiliar names, with 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan potentially leading the headlines. To accommodate those additions, however, some current players will need to be dropped.
Here, Sports Illustrated examines three standouts from the 2026 World Cup squad who may not earn a call-up from Pochettino this time around.
Tim Ream
Tim Ream's chapter with the USMNT appears to be drawing to a close. After accumulating 86 caps and leading the side as captain at the 2026 World Cup, the 36-year-old Charlotte FC center back will likely be phased out in favor of younger talent, while Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards steps up to anchor the central defense.
While the USMNT's center back depth may still be developing, a younger, uncapped option such as the Philadelphia Union's Neil Pierre could have a shot at earning a place in the squad. In the interim, the likes of soon-to-be Union center back Mark McKenzie, Celtic FC's Auston Trusty, or West Bromwich Albion's George Campbell could fill that void, with all three still under 34 when the 2030 World Cup arrives.
Despite earning an MLS All-Star nod, Ream has found it difficult to keep pace with some of the quicker attackers in the Eastern Conference and may no longer be equipped for the demands of international competition, given the caliber of opponents the USMNT aspires to challenge. Through 18 matches this season, he ranks in just the sixth percentile for defensive actions per 90 minutes and averages a modest 0.63 tackles per 90. His 4.69 clearances per 90 also places him in the bottom half among all MLS defenders.
Ream's contributions to the USMNT have been undeniably valuable, but the moment has arrived to turn the page toward 2030 — a journey he is unlikely to be part of.
Matt Freese
Matt Freese being omitted from the USMNT's fall roster would come as a surprise, yet it is entirely plausible that the 2026 World Cup starter isn't factored into the immediate plans for this window. At this stage, what the 28-year-old offers between the posts is well established, and he appears to have limited room for career advancement at New York City FC, where he is contracted through 2030.
Given Freese's familiar profile and relatively modest tally of 19 caps, he may not be worth a roster spot in a camp where Pochettino could explore other options. Unlike Ream, however, missing this camp would likely not spell the end of Freese's international career; he could still remain in contention to start in November when competitive fixtures resume.
Expect only one of Freese or New England Revolution's Matt Turner to appear on Thursday's squad announcement. Chicago Fire's 22-year-old Chris Brady is likely to retain his place after serving as the third-choice goalkeeper at the World Cup, and there are growing calls for Nashville SC's Brian Schwake — uncapped at 25 but arguably the finest shot-stopper in MLS this season.
Folarin Balogun
The past several months have been difficult for Folarin Balogun, and the USMNT may opt to allow him time to recover and rebuild his form at Monaco rather than subjecting him to lengthy transatlantic travel. He is undoubtedly a key figure in the team's long-term plans, but he may be the kind of player who can be spared for a relatively low-stakes camp.
The 25-year-old has not featured since the team's defeat to Belgium in the round of 16 — a match in which he was the central talking point after controversy prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene and pressure FIFA into suspending his red card from the round of 32. Since then, a Deadline Day transfer to Everton collapsed, and he has picked up an injury that has kept him out of Monaco's early-season setup.
Balogun is expected to return to the squad in November, but there is a genuine possibility he will be absent from the early fall plans.