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A new chapter begins.
The U.S. men's national team will reconvene later this month for the first time since the 2026 World Cup on home turf. Despite ending in heartbreak and controversy, it was a largely triumphant run for the Stars and Stripes. The months away from international competition have highlighted the solid foundation built this summer, upon which rising American talents are already beginning to flourish.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino, who signed a new deal with U.S. Soccer extending through the 2030 World Cup, has dedicated himself to the team's future and building on the progress already achieved. It marks a forward step for the Argentine coach, beginning with the extended September–October international window running from Sept. 21 to Oct. 6. The USMNT has four international friendlies scheduled during that period, against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada.
Pochettino will select 26 players for his squad. He plans to blend experienced veterans with fresh faces, eager to take full advantage of his very first chance to experiment with his ideal 2030 World Cup setup.
"The project is 2030," Pochettino said last week. "That needs to be our aim … The next camp is going to be an opportunity to bring in players that can be involved in that four-year process with the possibility to arrive to 2030 in the best condition."
He continued: "We need to create a group of players that [is] professional and compete in the way that we expect that they need to compete. With the talented players and young players that we have ahead, we need to be right and to work with the national team with all the coaches, youth coaches, all the organization of the coaches ... to integrate in the best way."
The Starters and Roster Locks
Pochettino discovered a great deal of promise in the midfield with the trio of Malik Tillman, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams, and will likely continue to deploy all three in his starting lineup for the foreseeable future. Adams was exceptional at shielding the space in front of the defense. His leadership and composure gave Tillman and McKennie the freedom to express themselves higher up the pitch, linking play and combining with the wide players. The oldest of the three is McKennie at 28, meaning he will be 32 at the 2030 World Cup and likely still more than capable of performing at a high level four years from now, barring any significant injuries.
Christian Pulisic, regardless of how inconsistent and injury-prone he has been recently, will seemingly always be a certainty in this squad, because when he is at his best, he is simply unplayable. His flashes of sheer brilliance are always worth the patience, no matter how many difficult spells he puts fans and Pochettino through.
Crystal Palace's Chris Richards is the kind of player you construct entire defenses around, and Pochettino should be expected to do exactly that. The center back brings a sense of assurance and composure to the backline that is sorely missed whenever he is absent. And aerially, he can genuinely hold his own against European stars. He may not have been at his sharpest in the defeat to Belgium this summer; however, his record prior to that was absolutely outstanding.
The Fringe Players
When the final whistle sounded in the round of 16, center back Tim Ream broke down in tears. It was in that moment the veteran USMNT stalwart likely realized his international career was coming to a close. Pochettino undoubtedly values Ream, having not only named him captain for the World Cup but also playing him the full 90 minutes in four of the five tournament games. Nevertheless, with the Argentine's focus rightfully on the 2030 World Cup, he likely recognizes it is time to move on from Ream.
The defender has yet to officially announce his international retirement; however, it seems highly unlikely that the 38-year-old will be able to perform at the required level in four years' time. In fact, he already showed signs of slowing down and aging this past summer.
In a similar fashion, Pochettino may also phase out veteran goalkeeper Matt Turner, who served as backup to Matt Freese this summer after starting at the 2022 World Cup. Turner has been in fine form recently in MLS with the New England Revolution; however, it is unrealistic to expect the 32-year-old to be at the level Pochettino requires in four years. Several promising young options are waiting for their opportunity.
Controversially, Folarin Balogun may be a fringe player only for this international window—certainly not on a long-term basis. Balogun emerged as the USMNT's standout performer this summer after netting three goals in just four matches, and for that reason, Pochettino likely has him at the center of all his future plans.
The 25-year-old has endured considerable turbulence in recent months, even beyond the unwanted controversy involving U.S. President Donald Trump this summer. The striker was set to move to Premier League side Everton from Monaco; however, the transfer collapsed in the final hours of Deadline Day on Sept. 1 after Balogun failed his medical. Although Everton eventually renewed their interest in signing him, Balogun withdrew from the deal at the last moment, seemingly unsettled by the Toffees' apparent lack of conviction.
The American has not featured in a match since the USMNT's World Cup exit in early July, largely due to the drawn-out transfer saga as well as a minor knee complaint. Although Balogun returned to Monaco's training ground last week, Pochettino may be reluctant to call him up if he is not match fit or fully settled.
The Newcomers
"The headline needs to be a new start, a fresh start," Pochettino said.
How far he is willing to commit to that vision remains to be seen, but a natural starting point for his new era would be Cavan Sullivan. It may be a bold claim, but the 16-year-old Philadelphia Union midfielder is a superstar in the making. There is simply something about the way he plays that transcends dominance—it is nothing short of breathtaking.
It's a level of talent that Manchester City are well aware of, with contractual arrangements in place to bring Sullivan on board when he turns 18. His ability to control the ball and read the game far exceeds his teenage years, and his statistics are equally staggering.
Since the World Cup international break, the youngster has registered six goals and five assists, including nine goal contributions across his last seven matches. Pochettino may have little choice but to hand Sullivan his first call-up, even if he harbors some concern that the teenager can be a touch overconfident.
Another newcomer who could earn Pochettino's attention is 18-year-old center back Neil Pierre. Sullivan's teammate and a towering 6'5" defender, Pierre has established himself as a key figure in the Union's backline since returning from a loan spell at Danish club Lyngby this summer. Beyond his defensive contributions, the teenager has a knack for scoring. He is physically dominant in the air and has already found the net four times from set pieces since July. Pierre could prove to be a worthy heir to Ream.