ไทย
English
中國人
Mauricio Pochettino may have secured an extension with the U.S. men's national team, but the Argentine coach has made it crystal clear that this is very much a fresh start. The program would be "starting from zero," he cautioned.
It didn't remain on "zero" for long.
Four victories while hopping across five states in three time zones has given Pochettino's new project the ideal foundation from which to grow. Results were never the primary concern for the manager, but a flawless run through a somewhat disappointing World Cup on home turf has created space for experimentation.
Nearly every calculated risk Pochettino took paid dividends during a series of wildly contrasting wins over Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada. Yet, for every beneficiary on the roster, there was a frustrated casualty of the USMNT's success watching from the bench.
Fall Friendly Results
Winners
Mauricio Pochettino
After putting pen to paper on a lucrative contract through the 2030 World Cup, Pochettino holds considerable leverage. Still, a more cautious manager might have included at least one of Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie or Folarin Balogun and called up fewer than 13 uncapped youngsters. Pochettino, however, is firmly in the business of nurturing a new generation of talent. There is no time to waste, and he navigated this bold leap of faith without a single defeat to his name.
Beyond the tally of 12 goals scored and three conceded across four consecutive wins, the USMNT maintained that high-octane style which has defined the nation's finest performances under Pochettino.
"We played four games in two weeks, and to play always with the same intensity, with the same commitment, with the same passion, that is a thing that we keep," the exacting manager said with evident satisfaction.
Cavan Sullivan
To be the future you must rewrite history. pic.twitter.com/MID0hojIEy
Cavan Sullivan was not the USMNT's standout performer this fall; he wasn't even the top teenager on the squad. However, it is Philadelphia Union's bleach-blonde 17-year-old who became the defining face of this window, thanks to both his technical ability and relentless work rate.
Pochettino's prized pupil played with a contagious energy that rippled through the entire squad. His record-setting goal against Mexico may have stemmed from a clumsy error by goalkeeper Raúl Rangel, yet the modern perception of players is so often built on memorable moments rather than sustained consistency. Sullivan delivered the highlight-reel content while also pressing hard enough to earn Pochettino's seal of approval. Mission accomplished.
The USMNT's Other Kids
The USMNT are handing the keys to the kids. pic.twitter.com/cpWbBzfEFb
There were 13 players on Pochettino's roster who entered the international window without a single senior cap. By the time the hectic schedule wrapped up, every one of that baker's dozen had been given their opportunity.
"I think obviously there are a lot of new faces, and they all had great energy and worked very hard while they were here," reflected Gio Reyna, a relative veteran at the grand old age of 23.
The hard work is far from over. If this crop of youngsters hopes to be reunited come November, their most demanding challenge is only just beginning. "The most difficult thing is how we support these young players," Pochettino explained.
"The easier thing always is to arrive there and make their debut. But now, how we are going to evolve with them, and how we are going to protect [them]? ... How are we going to make them understand that now they have more responsibility? That is one of the things that we were talking [about] in the dressing room, too."
Pochettino's Youngsters
Gio Reyna
Availability is the greatest asset, and it's one that has been sorely lacking throughout much of Reyna's young yet turbulent career. This window, however, offered some rare glimpses of consistency. Pochettino's favored project was a constant presence in an ever-rotating starting lineup.
Those four starts followed a run of form at Strasbourg that has now seen Reyna start eight consecutive matches for club and country — a first in his entire senior career. For perspective, he made his professional debut back in January 2020.
Rather than dwell on that milestone, Reyna kept his eyes fixed ahead. "Honestly, [I'm] more just thinking about keep going now ... just keep building what I've been doing, keep showing up every day, training, recovering, doing everything I need to prepare mentally and physically for every training and game," he said.
"[I] feel good, though. Feeling more confident every time I step on the pitch. It was a good amount of minutes, so just very happy with obviously how this window went, as well."
Losers
Christian Pulisic
It's easy to paint those who are overshadowed by stars as villains. A fully fit and in-form Christian Pulisic was left at home, and the biggest talking point was that it barely registered as a talking point at all.
Everything Pulisic might have contributed was covered in his absence. Malik Tillman carried his impressive World Cup form into the window as the team's creative engine, while Tyler Adams stepped up as leader in his new role as Pochettino's captain. Sullivan brought enough magic to go around, and Julian Hall chipped in with the goals. Even Justin Ellis managed to replicate the classic Pulisic pattern of picking up an injury after a promising display.
Pulisic has oscillated between adoration and criticism from the national team fanbase throughout his uneasy tenure, but the 28-year-old now risks losing his footing entirely and slipping into the unforgiving void of irrelevance.
Ricardo Pepi
Unlike Pulisic, McKennie or Balogun, Ricardo Pepi did manage to survive Pochettino's post-World Cup clear-out. It was fate, rather than the manager, that intervened — the PSV Eindhoven striker picked up a minor injury right on the eve of the international break. One has to wonder whether Hall or Ellis would have received nearly as much playing time had Pepi been fit and available. In his absence, the two youngsters combined for five goals across four matches. The 23-year-old, by contrast, hasn't found the net for the national team since 2024.
Pepi already faces stiff competition from Balogun, whose absence appeared to be a matter of unfortunate timing rather than any loss of confidence from Pochettino. Now he has two more players lining up for that No. 9 shirt.
Matt Freese
It was a notable show of confidence from Pochettino to hand Matt Freese the start for the USMNT's first outing following his dismal World Cup exit. The goalkeeper endured a torrid round of 16 loss to Belgium but was handed the nod for the Peru fixture. During his 45 minutes on the pitch, the New York City FC stopper conceded the game's only goal — one he could do little to prevent — and made just one save before being substituted. He would not appear again throughout the fall window.
At 28, Freese doesn't align with Pochettino's youth-driven vision. Brian Schwake and Diego Kochen, two younger alternatives, appear to be the frontrunners for the No. 1 jersey and spent the rest of the window competing for that distinction.
Kochen recovered from a shaky outing against Mexico to eventually impress in the window's marquee fixture, but it was Schwake who delivered the most polished performance, earning a well-deserved clean sheet against Canada. Pochettino has a decision to make in the months and years ahead, though Freese seems unlikely to factor into that conversation.