When the U.S. men’s national team reconvenes on Sept. 21 to prepare for four exhibition games late this month and early next, it will probably look different from the 26-player squad that reached the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Forward Christian Pulisic hasn’t played for AC Milan since suffering two microfractures in his right leg during the tournament co-hosts’ humiliating 4-1 knockout loss to Belgium. World Cup captain Tim Ream turns 39 next month and has likely played his last match for his country. On the first steps toward the centennial 2030 competition co-hosted mostly by Morocco, Portugal and Spain, it’s possible that freshly rehired coach Mauricio Pochettino will leave several other established Americans home when he drops his next roster on or around Sept. 17.
If that’s the case, some of those regulars could be replaced by familiar names who missed the World Cup but are playing regularly and well in early 2026–27, or by youngsters who are either just beginning their international careers and/or vying for a spot on the U.S. under-23 squad that will compete at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
The USA opens its four-match slate of friendlies against Peru in Orlando on Sept. 26, the start of a rare stretch of unofficial games and, crucially, training sessions before the Concacaf Nations League returns in November and next March — and before the 2027 Gold Cup kicks off on FOX’s air next summer. Poch’s side also faces Chile (Sept. 29) before closing out the camp with games against regional rivals Mexico (Oct. 3) and Canada (Oct. 6).
(Photo by Jane Gershovich/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
With the Steve Cherundolo-led U-23s idle until FIFA’s November window, Pochettino has the chance to take a first-hand look at the next generation. The Argentine’s best skill as a coach is identifying emerging talents like Alex Freeman, the now-22-year-old defender who went from uncapped prospect in mid-2025 to World Cup starter a year later. Freeman scored in the group stage win over Australia and logged the second-most minutes of any American in the tournament, behind only Weston McKennie.
“It’s going to be important to provide the young kids that we really believe have the potential to arrive in 2030 in four years to start to work and start to know [what] we expect from them,” Pochettino told me and other reporters on the day his return was announced. “They need to feel if they perform, they can have the possibility to join us.”
Here are some of the candidates:
When Gozo scored six goals in 16 MLS appearances for Real Salt Lake this spring, Pochettino seriously considered taking the uncapped teenager to the World Cup. Palace saw enough to drop a $15 million transfer fee on the Utah native, who made his Premier League debut for the Eagles in last week’s loss to Manchester City. That makes Gozo an obvious candidate for the upcoming games — unless Poch opts to leave the youngster back in London for this camp so he can continue acclimating to his new surroundings.
Sullivan has been sensational for Philly since MLS returned from its World Cup break, with four goal contributions in the Union’s last four games. The Man City prospect has also scored in two straight matches, including a beauty in last week’ 3-1 win over the New York Red Bulls. Were Sullivan to play in any of the Americans’ games this fall, he’d become the youngest player to represent the U.S. men since 16-year-old Freddy Adu in 2006.
For a program in need of young center backs, the timing of Pierre’s recent emergence is perfect. Named the top defender in MLS’s developmental “Next Pro” league last season, the towering (he’s 6-foot-7) Pierre made his first team debut for Philadelphia last season, then spent the first half of 2026 on loan to Copenhagen-based Lyngby, which he helped get promoted to the Danish top flight this spring. Pierre has started seven of the Union’s nine games since returning in July and scored an astounding four goals, including last weekend against the Red Bulls.
When the seven-time European champions shipped Musah to Italian rivals Atalanta on loan last season, it seemed his career with the Rossoneri was over — especially after starting just five Serie A games in 2025-26 and missing out on a World Cup trip. But Musah, who started all four games for the U.S. at Qatar 2022, returned to the San Siro and won over new manager Rúben Amorim, who has kept the American in the heart of his midfield for every minute of Milan’s first two matches this campaign.
Unlike Musah, Morris came agonizingly close to making the World Cup roster following a strong 2025-26 campaign during which ‘Boro narrowly missed out on promotion to the Prem. He’s been even better to start the new season, scoring a spectacular goal in Wednesday’s 1-1 tie away to Burnley.
With Ream gone and Miles Robinson turning 30 early next year, Pochettino needs new center backs. Poch gave Campbell his first cap in early 2025, when he was still playing for MLS club CF Montreal. Now 25, the Atlanta United academy product is captaining West Brom in his second season with the English Championship club. After four matches, the Baggies are tied for the final spot in the second tier’s Premier League promotion playoffs.
The former Atlanta United left back will compete in the UEFA Champions League this season after he (and fellow American Samuel Adeniran, who is now injured) knocked Scottish behemoth Celtic out of the competition last month. He could be an option if either of Poch’s two World Cup left backs — Antonee “Jedi” Robinson and understudy Max Arfsten, who is still settling in with Middlesbrough — aren’t summoned.
Once a left back himself, the Connecticut-born left-footer has been deployed as an attacker under Revs coach (and 2024 U.S. Olympic boss) Marko Mitrović. Miller, who turns 19 in November, has responded with four goals and four assists in 20 appearances, 14 of them starts.
Though Campbell burst onto the scene two years ago by making Champions League and Bundesliga appearances for German titans Borussia Dortmund, the 5-foot-7 Texan had a disappointing 2025-26 on loan to Hoffenheim, playing in just five league games. He joined newly promoted Elversberg in July and got off to a fast start in last week’s season-opening upset of Malik Tillman’s Bayer Leverkusen, starting and scoring in the 3-2 win. Campbell has two more chances to impress before Pochettino names his squad: on Sunday at Borussia Mönchengladbach and home to Bayern Munich on Sept. 13.
Although he has just one goal in 18 MLS regular season games for the Lions in 2026, Ellis is a skillful, intelligent and versatile player. He has also developed a quick partnership with onetime U.S. striker Daryl Dike and France/Atlético Madrid legend Antoine Griezmann, contributing seven assists.
Pochettino started Busio in his first two games and U.S. coach but hasn’t recalled him since late 2024. But Busio is now back in Serie A for the third time with the Venice-based Winged Lions, and is both captaining the club this season. With a new cycle just beginning, has the classy Busio earned another look?
The best keeper on the best team in MLS this season, Schwake’s 77.3 save percentage leads the league ahead of World Cup winner Hugo Lloris and U.S. veteran Matt Turner. Schwake conceded just 17 goals in Nashville’s 22 matches, keeping 10 clean sheets and logging every minute along the way. Before joining Nashville last year, the Illinois native played for lower league clubs in Spain and Scotland.