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Mark McKenzie has been called into the U.S. men's national team after fellow defender George Campbell was forced to withdraw due to a groin injury.
Unlike McKenzie, Campbell was not included in Mauricio Pochettino's 2026 World Cup squad, watching from the sidelines as his teammate received the call-up. McKenzie didn't feature prominently on home turf, earning just one appearance in the inconsequential group stage loss to Türkiye, but was a well-regarded member of the squad, most notably leading the team in post-match prayer circles on the pitch.
Nevertheless, Campbell had worked his way back into Pochettino's plans following an impressive start to the new campaign as skipper of a West Bromwich Albion side pushing for Premier League promotion. The 25-year-old started half of the extended September-October matches and was named once again in Pochettino's November squad.
The squad was announced on Wednesday, less than a day after Campbell was forced off with a groin injury while featuring for West Brom against Southampton in England's second division. Following further scans, a recovery in time proved impossible, opening the door for McKenzie's return.
The 27-year-old New York native missed out on the autumn roster despite remaining a consistent starter for Toulouse in France's top flight. McKenzie has already agreed to return to MLS with Philadelphia Union but will get the opportunity to play on home soil sooner than he likely anticipated.
USMNT's November Fixtures
USMNT's Center Back Depth
Like every position on the field, the center back spots remain very much open to competition in Pochettino's revamped setup. Following the international retirement of captain Tim Ream, vice-captain Chris Richards is expected to remain the go-to option in high-stakes matches. However, the Argentine manager demonstrated in the fall that he is prepared to rotate his entire squad.
The Crystal Palace center back started only two of the USMNT's first four post-World Cup games as Pochettino experimented with a different central defensive pairing in each friendly. With just two matches scheduled this month—a two-legged Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal against Haiti on the horizon—rotation will be more restricted, though still expected.
Celtic's Auston Trusty, another World Cup squad member, is competing for playing time alongside McKenzie and teenage sensation Neil Pierre. The Philadelphia Union's towering 6'7" 19-year-old has turned heads in MLS this season, establishing himself as a regular while also contributing an impressive five goals.
This international break will carry special significance for Pierre, whose Haitian heritage will take center stage across this two-match series. "Who I am as a player and person comes from my parents and how they've instilled their tradition," the teenager recently told GOAL.
"They were born in Haiti, and our family, I don't even know how many family members we have. We have so many family members that just come together and we adopt anyone into our family. We instill that, and it's very big. I think that even comes to feel like a team environment."