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When manager Mauricio Pochettino declared he wanted a "new start, a fresh start" for the U.S. men's national team following the 2026 FIFA World Cup, few could have anticipated just how sweeping his changes would be.
After all, the Stars and Stripes had enjoyed a remarkable run on home soil that summer, even if it concluded in painful fashion with a 4–1 defeat to Belgium in the round of 16. Perhaps it was that crushing Tuesday exit that convinced Pochettino there remains considerable work ahead.
The Argentine tactician has completely transformed his roster for the upcoming September–October international window, with fewer than half the players selected having actually featured for him during the World Cup just months earlier (13).
Twelve players have received their very first senior call-ups, eight of whom are still teenagers. They will be charged with making an impact across four autumn friendlies against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada—and ultimately, the 2030 World Cup, should everything unfold according to Pochettino's ambitious vision.
"It's exciting to have ... the new players in this roster to try to be sure that they can express their potential, their real potential," Pochettino said following his squad announcement.
So who are these emerging talents stepping into the USMNT spotlight? Given that they could become fixtures for years to come, it's well worth getting acquainted with them.
Meet the USMNT's 12 Newcomers
1. Mathis Albert
Seventeen-year-old Mathis Albert is a midfielder for Borussia Dortmund who is steadily building a reputation in Germany. Earlier this spring, he became the youngest American ever to appear in the Bundesliga, surpassing the record previously held by USMNT star Gio Reyna and pushing U.S. Soccer icon Christian Pulisic to third on that list.
Albert has had limited playing time in Dortmund's new campaign, but he is gaining Champions League exposure—something very few teenagers can claim.
2. Cole Campbell
Another American plying his trade in Germany, Cole Campbell is a winger for Bundesliga outfit SV Elversberg. The 20-year-old is a regular starter on the left flank and netted his first goal of the season against USMNT star Malik Tillman's Bayer Leverkusen last month.
3. Justin Ellis
Justin Ellis is one of the most talked-about names in MLS at the moment. The 19-year-old forward emerged from Orlando City's reserve setup earlier this season and has since cemented himself as a vital component of the Lions' first-team attack. Now a regular in the starting lineup, he has contributed three goals and 11 assists across all competitions.
4. Zavier Gozo
It has been quite the whirlwind year for Zavier Gozo. The 19-year-old winger began the MLS season with Real Salt Lake, where he tallied six goals and five assists by the summer and earned an MLS All-Star selection. He then secured a high-profile transfer to Crystal Palace for a staggering $15 million.
The teenager is now learning from elite company in the English Premier League, with Palace teammate and USMNT center back Chris Richards—who will also feature in the fall window—among the most influential figures around him.
5. Julian Hall
Eighteen-year-old striker Julian Hall is widely regarded as the USMNT's future at center forward. Playing under former USMNT captain Michael Bradley at Red Bull New York, Hall is benefiting from top-level mentorship and flourishing as a result.
He has become a mainstay in the starting lineup for the MLS club, netting 13 goals across all competitions so far this season, including a hat-trick against Columbus Crew in May that made him the youngest player in MLS history to achieve the feat.
6. Adri Mehmeti
Hall's clubmate, Adri Mehmeti, also earned Pochettino's nod. The 17-year-old midfielder has become a key orchestrator in the Red Bulls' engine room, and he performs the role with considerable quality. He has registered one goal and five assists so far this season.
7. Peyton Miller
Eighteen-year-old Peyton Miller is a versatile and dependable standout for the in-form New England Revolution. Much like USMNT star Sergiño Dest, he is comfortable operating anywhere along the flanks, on either side of the pitch.
He has shone as a starting winger for the New England Revolution recently, accumulating seven goals and four assists.
8. Neil Pierre
The USMNT departed the World Cup with a clear need to strengthen its defensive unit, particularly with the looming retirement of 38-year-old Tim Ream. That makes this the ideal moment for 18-year-old Neil Pierre to stake his claim in the backline.
The imposing 6'5" defender returned to the Union this summer following a loan stint with Danish club Lyngby and has been a cornerstone of the MLS side's resurgence. The Union have gone unbeaten in their last 11 league outings since Pierre's comeback.
His stature makes him a dominant aerial presence, and Pierre is also a dangerous threat from set pieces and crosses, having already scored four goals this season.
9. Brooklyn Raines
Another New England Revolution player, 21-year-old Brooklyn Raines is a linchpin in the club's central midfield, celebrated for his creative vision and intelligent movement off the ball.
After impressing at the 2025 U-20 World Cup, he was named a finalist for the 2025 U.S. Soccer Young Male Player of the Year award.
10. Brian Schwake
Nashville SC goalkeeper Brian Schwake has been a driving force behind the club's extraordinary season. The side sits atop the league standings with 57 points, eight clear of the next-best team in either conference (the Vancouver Whitecaps). Nashville are widely considered certainties for the Supporters' Shield, a feat made possible by just three defeats all season and Schwake's 12 clean sheets.
Schwake, named a 2026 MLS All-Star, tops the league's goalkeepers in save percentage (76.1%), per FBref stats.
The 25-year-old is expected to challenge for the starting USMNT goalkeeper spot, particularly given Matt Freese's inconsistent showing at the World Cup.
11. Frankie Westfield
Twenty-year-old Francis "Frankie" Westfield is a right back for the Philadelphia Union and a regular starter alongside Pierre in the defensive line. Westfield is renowned for his attacking instincts and ability to break through opposition lines. He uses his pace to surge past defenders before delivering a precise cross or lofted ball. Westfield has contributed three assists across the last two league fixtures.
12. Cavan Sullivan
The "It" boy.
Sixteen-year-old Cavan Sullivan is comfortably the most thrilling newcomer for American supporters. He is not only the youngest player in Pochettino's squad (and should he take the field, he will become the USMNT's youngest debutant since Freddy Adu in 2006), but he is already among the finest players in all of MLS.
Since securing a consistent starting berth with the Philadelphia Union this summer, the midfielder has been an unstoppable force, registering seven goals and nine assists since mid-August and 10 goal contributions across his last five appearances alone. He possesses the silky technique, work rate and charisma of a genuine star in the making, and expectations are sky-high that he will lead the Stars and Stripes in four years' time.