ไทย
English
中國人
A new chapter is beginning for the U.S. men's national team.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino is expected to unveil his squad for the first post-World Cup international camp within the next few weeks.
Many of the summer's standout performers will return to the USMNT training ground later this month; Mauricio Pochettino simply needs to determine which ones make the cut. Some players have done a better job than others during the break to prove to the Argentine manager that they deserve his ongoing attention.
Here's Sports Illustrated's weekly stock up, stock down breakdown for USMNT players.
USMNT Stock Up
Ricardo Pepi
After delivering reliable support at the striker position throughout the summer, Ricardo Pepi has hit the ground running upon returning to club action.
The 23-year-old has found the net three times in his last four appearances for PSV Eindhoven, contributing to four consecutive league victories and an unbeaten start to the new Eredivisie campaign.
Pepi's most recent strike came as early as the fifth minute of Saturday's clash against fierce rivals Ajax, setting the stage for an eventual 3–1 away triumph. He anticipated PSV's counterattacking buildup and positioned himself at the back post to meet a header from teammate Ruben van Bommel, redirecting it into the goal with his own head.
Pochettino will be pleased to see not just Pepi's goal-scoring output, but also his strong chemistry with fellow USMNT star Sergiño Dest. The PSV fullback provided the assist for Pepi's first goal of the new season, a decisive game-winner in the club's 2–1 win over Excelsior. Dest, 25, made an overlapping run from right back, collected a bouncing ball just inside the penalty area, and chipped it first-time to Pepi, who needed only one touch to slot it past the keeper.
Jack McGlynn
The young midfielder became the latest USMNT player to make the move to Europe, looking to elevate his game abroad and, in doing so, recapture Pochettino's attention.
The 23-year-old penned a three-year contract with Stoke City of the EFL Championship just ahead of the transfer deadline, leaving MLS side Houston Dynamo for a reported fee of $5.5 million.
McGlynn spent just over a season and a half in Houston, racking up eight goals and 14 assists as a regular starter. He played a key role in the Dynamo's climb up the Western Conference standings, where they currently sit second as of Tuesday, behind the Vancouver Whitecaps.
While the English second division may not represent a dramatically higher level than MLS, it could be precisely the environment McGlynn needs to re-enter the international conversation.
McGlynn has earned 13 caps for the Stars and Stripes, contributing two goals and two assists in that span. His most recent appearance came during the Sept. 2025 international window, featuring in friendlies against Japan and South Korea following his involvement in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup. However, he subsequently fell out of Pochettino's plans and was left off the World Cup roster.
Sebastian Berhalter and Max Arfsten were included in the World Cup squad, and both similarly made the transition from MLS to the EFL Championship this summer, joining Middlesbrough from Vancouver and Columbus Crew, respectively. Pochettino may now view McGlynn through the same lens as those two influential midfielders.
USMNT Stock Down
Antonee Robinson
Antonee Robinson's Fulham have endured a difficult opening to the new Premier League season, failing to collect a single point from their first three matches under new boss Álvaro Arbeloa.
In their most recent fixture against Crystal Palace, Fulham carved out chance after chance—and even led on two separate occasions—yet still departed Craven Cottage on the wrong end of a 3–2 scoreline on Saturday. The Cottagers were undone by an aggressive press that left them vulnerable on the counter, a situation that USMNT fullback Robinson was ultimately unable to resolve. The 29-year-old could only look on helplessly as Palace netted their second goal of the night.
For the visitors' decisive winner just over 20 minutes later, Robinson was simply outpaced by a threatening run in behind from Anan Khalaili, who burst into the box before the ball fell to Ben Chilwell for a composed finish. The entire Fulham side was met with jeers as they left the pitch.
Adding to Robinson's woes, Pochettino was actually in attendance at Craven Cottage for the match, alongside assistant coach Jesús Pérez, to assess not only Robinson but also Crystal Palace and USMNT center back Chris Richards.
Folarin Balogun
Folarin Balogun has once again—through no fault of his own—found himself embroiled in controversy.
Just months after becoming the focal point of a World Cup red card saga involving U.S. President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Balogun was at the heart of the chaotic transfer drama that unfolded in the final hours of Deadline Day on Sept. 1. The fallout triggered a chain reaction that left several clubs in disarray, Chelsea among them.
The USMNT striker had been set to join Everton this summer in a substantial deal valued at $54.1 million (£40 million). The move would have seen the 25-year-old Monaco forward make his long-anticipated return to the Premier League and put behind him a disappointing early stint on English soil (2020–2023).
Instead, Balogun was stunned to learn he had failed Everton's medical examination just hours before the transfer window was due to close. With time running out, Monaco managed to persuade Everton that their No. 9 was fit to sign, and the two clubs resumed negotiations. By that point, however, Balogun himself chose to walk away from the deal—the only missing signature on an otherwise completed agreement—apparently shaken by Everton's doubts over his fitness.
Rather than completing a high-profile move to the Premier League, Balogun will stay at Monaco, a club that is not entirely satisfied with him at present.
The Ligue 1 outfit had been under pressure to complete one significant sale on Deadline Day to balance their finances and had even lined up midfielder Lamine Camara for a move to Chelsea when the Balogun deal appeared to be collapsing. Once the Balogun transfer seemed back on track, Monaco halted the Camara negotiations. Balogun then withdrew from the Everton deal with just five minutes remaining in the window, leaving Monaco without the sale they needed.
Balogun has yet to feature on the pitch since the heartbreaking World Cup round of 16 exit in early July, largely due to the transfer turmoil. He was also omitted from Monaco's Conference League squad and did not travel for Friday's league fixture against Paris Saint-Germain, despite having rejoined group training.