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The U.S. men's national team returns to action next week, gathering on Nov. 9 ahead of a two-game series against Haiti in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals, marking the squad's first competitive matches since the 2026 World Cup.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino will be determined to assemble a squad capable of carrying the momentum the Stars and Stripes built last month, having swept all four fall friendlies for an unbeaten start to the post-World Cup era.
He is also anticipated to name a blend of experienced veterans and promising young talents, as he did in September, with a clear desire to shape his ideal 2030 World Cup roster as soon as possible. However, unlike the previous international window, there is one significant hurdle he must navigate that will likely result in fewer teenagers being called up this time around.
U.S. Soccer's U-23 side is also set to hold an international camp next week, kicking off preparations for the 2028 Summer Olympics, which features an under-23 format in the men's soccer competition. Twelve of the 28 players Pochettino summoned last month are age-eligible for that Olympic squad, all born after the Jan. 1, 2005 cutoff date.
Already in regular dialogue with Pochettino, Olympics team manager Steve Cherundolo will be granted some priority when it comes to selecting his U-23 players this week, rendering many of them unavailable for the senior squad this month. The 2028 Summer Olympics carries elevated significance for U.S. Soccer, as it will be hosted on home turf in Los Angeles. Pochettino has also publicly acknowledged the tournament's value as a developmental stepping stone toward the 2030 World Cup for many of his brightest young prospects.
With all of that taken into account, here is the projected roster Pochettino could announce in the coming days.
The Starters and Roster Locks
Tyler Adams is a certainty to feature in Pochettino's November roster. Not only is the 27-year-old defensive midfielder the USMNT's new long-term captain, but he is also thriving at the club level with Bournemouth right now.
Orchestrating play for the Cherries, Adams has guided them to six consecutive victories, all while keeping a clean sheet throughout. The first-time European competitors recently dismantled seven-time champions AC Milan 3–0 in Europa League action, before defeating Premier League powerhouse Manchester United by the same margin in a league fixture just three days later. Pochettino will hope that the winning formula Adams is applying on both ends of Bournemouth's game can translate to the international stage.
Perhaps three weeks ago, Christian Pulisic wouldn't have been a certainty for the November roster. He was even omitted from Pochettino's September-October camp. However, he has recently caught fire. And when he is in form, there is no more dangerous player.
Fresh off signing a new long-term contract with AC Milan that comes with a significant pay increase, Pulisic delivered a Halloween-worthy performance against Inter Milan on Saturday in the highly anticipated derby. He needed just four minutes to find the net, sparking the Rossoneri to an eventual 3–1 triumph.
The 28-year-old winger has firmly reclaimed his spot in Ruben Amorim's starting eleven and now has three goals and one assist in Serie A play. The primary concern surrounding Pulisic remains his inconsistency and recent injury troubles; however, expect Pochettino to place his faith in "Captain America" once more.
The Fringe Players
Pochettino has certainly placed a question mark beside Folarin Balogun's name. The 25-year-old striker was the standout figure for the USMNT at the World Cup this summer, netting three times in four matches, before being unwillingly swept up in controversy that continued to grow at the club level this fall. It is little surprise that he has chosen to keep a low profile in recent months.
But when is the right moment to bring him back into the spotlight? That is likely the question weighing on Pochettino's mind. Although the AS Monaco forward has yet to reclaim a starting role at his club, he is gradually earning more minutes in French Ligue 1 and even netted his first goal of the season on Sunday against Paris FC. While the finish wasn't enough to secure a road victory, it echoed the tenacity and flair that defined Balogun's summer — the qualities that won over so many fans across the U.S., including Pochettino himself.
There is little doubt that Balogun will have a long and celebrated history with the USMNT. It is simply a question of when he is ready to continue writing it.
Question marks also linger over Joe Scally and Tim Weah. Both have fallen out of Pochettino's favor since the 2026 World Cup, serving as rare substitutes during the summer's competition before being left out of the September-October camp entirely. Nevertheless, both are making compelling cases for reconsideration.
Scally has been outstanding this season on Borussia Mönchengladbach's right flank. The 23-year-old right wingback/fullback has showcased his versatility on both sides of the ball in the German Bundesliga and already has three goals and two assists since September. If his domestic form alone isn't enough to sway Pochettino, his ability to fill in for youngsters Peyton Miller and Frankie Westfield at fullback might be, given the pair will likely join Cherundolo's squad this month.
Meanwhile, Weah has been captaining club side Marseille from right back and already has one goal and two assists this season. The 26-year-old primarily operates as a winger under Pochettino and will be a valuable asset at that position if Cherundolo calls up 17-year-old Mathis Albert and 20-year-old Cole Campbell for his U-23 team.
The Newcomers
The arrival of Niko Tsakiris into the USMNT setup feels like only a matter of time.
The 21-year-old attacking midfielder has been turning heads in Major League Soccer this season as the standout performer for the San Jose Earthquakes. His creativity and vision in possession are exceptional for his age, and he already has three goals and a team-leading 12 assists this season. He also tops San Jose in chances created with 54.
He has excelled at the youth levels of U.S. Soccer, claiming gold and silver medals at the 2022 and 2024 Concacaf U-20 Championship, along with the Golden Ball in the latter tournament. He is ready to take the next step.
Pochettino doesn't necessarily need additional midfielders — it is already a well-stocked area of the squad — however, deploying Tsakiris in the No. 10 role could allow the manager to continue unlocking Malik Tillman and Gio Reyna's distinct qualities out wide.
Another potential newcomer in November is Samuel Adeniran. The 28-year-old striker is only now hitting his peak form. The leading American scorer across all of Europe, he has registered eight goals and two assists in just 12 appearances for Austrian club LASK Linz this season, including a stoppage-time winner against Celtic to secure a place in the UEFA Champions League main draw. There is no question that he has attracted Pochettino's attention in recent months.