Pulisic Continues Scoring Form

Winger Scored The Eventual Winner Against Genoa Sunday, His Third in Last Four League Matches

Christian Pulisic gave his club-form credentials a timely boost on Sunday, scoring in AC Milan’s 2-1 win at Genoa just before he links up with the U.S. Men’s National Team for the Haiti series.

Pulisic was one of five changes Ruben Amorim made after Thursday’s 2-0 Europa League loss to Ferencváros, and he was involved in both of Milan’s first-half goals. His pressing forced the error that led to Alphadjo Cissé’s opener in the 13th minute. Six minutes later, Milan pounced on another Genoa mistake in their own half. Gonçalo Ramos intercepted the ball and, rather than shoot himself, squared it to Pulisic, who fired low into the bottom corner for a 2-0 lead. It was his fourth goal of the season.

That tally fits a recent upswing. Pulisic had scored three times in his previous six matches, and his goal came a little over a week after Milan beat Inter in the derby. He was booked in the 75th minute and replaced by Ardon Jashari soon after.

The win was hardly comfortable. Genoa, who came in on a run of three straight victories, had 17 shots and were rewarded when Mikael Ellertsson struck from distance in the 87th minute, setting up a tense finish. Milan held on, though, to move into fourth place in Serie A on 24 points and ease some of the pressure heading into the break.

For Mauricio Pochettino, the timing could hardly be better. Pulisic returns to the national team for the first time since the World Cup and arrives as the squad’s most-capped player, with 90 caps. He missed the September-October window, an absence Pochettino chose not to explain, and Pochettino has already pointed to his potential partnership with young wingers like Cavan Sullivan as something to watch in camp.

Mehmeti Scores Second of the Season

Teenage Midfielder Finished the MLS Regular Season with His Second Goal

Adri Mehmeti capped a promising season with the New York Red Bulls by scoring the opening goal in a 3-0 win over Atlanta United on the final day of the MLS regular season, just days before he joins the U.S. Men’s National Team for the Haiti series.

The 17-year-old homegrown midfielder struck in the 31st minute. Ronald Donkor slipped a pass into the box for Mehmeti, whose first shot Atlanta goalkeeper Jayden Hibbert kick-saved. Mehmeti reacted quickest to the rebound, dribbled once around the diving keeper, and finished into the open net. It was his second goal of the 2026 season, and he has 11 goal contributions in all.

Cade Cowell doubled the lead in the 54th minute after a through ball from Sekou Koné, and Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty sealed the win with a free kick into the top corner in the 81st, his first goal for the club. Ethan Horvath needed just one save to keep a clean sheet. Both sides were already out of playoff contention, but the result gave New York a 10th-place finish and ended a stretch in which the team had lost four of its previous five. 

Mehmeti is one of eight young players returning from the September-October window for the Nations League quarterfinals. He made his national team debut during that stretch and has three caps. He is also eligible to represent Albania, so an appearance against Haiti would further cement his commitment to the U.S.

Teammate Julian Hall, also in camp, finished the regular season with 13 goals, one short of the MLS teenage record.

Sullivan Strong in Season Finale

The Teenager Scored Twice in Philadelphia's Victory, One Assisted By His Brother

Cavan Sullivan closed his breakout MLS regular season in style, scoring twice in the Philadelphia Union’s 4-1 win over Toronto FC. The result locked up the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and a best-of-three opening series against the third-seeded New England Revolution.

It was a family affair. Older brother Quinn set up Cavan’s second goal, a one-touch finish in the 58th minute that made it 3-1. Quinn led the breakaway after a flick header from Bruno Damiani, then slipped the ball to his trailing brother. Quinn also converted a penalty in the 41st minute and helped set up the opener, which Cavan tapped into an empty net in the 28th minute. The pair became the third set of brothers in MLS history to score for the same club in the same match, joining Gonzalo and Federico Higuaín and Diego and Yimmi Chará.

The two goals pushed Cavan to nine goals and 14 assists, including secondary assists. His 23 goal contributions are the most by a teenager in a single MLS regular season, passing the 20 Diego Fagúndez recorded in 2013. The 17-year-old is slated to join Manchester City after he turns 18.

The finish also caps a remarkable stretch for the teenager. Cavan became the youngest scorer in USMNT history against Mexico, lofting the ball over the goalkeeper after pressing him. Earlier, he had become the youngest player to win MLS Player of the Month, an honor he earned for September.

Philadelphia has surged since Ryan Richter took over as interim coach during the World Cup break, collecting 43 of a possible 57 points. Cavan has been central to that run. Quinn, meanwhile, appears to be rediscovering the form he showed before a torn ACL. Captain Alejandro Bedoya also made his final regular-season appearance as a late substitute.

Cavan will now join the USMNT for the Nations League series against Haiti before the Union’s playoff opener.

Reyna and Campbell Replaced

Duo Suffered Injuries During the Week, McGlynn and McKenzie to Replace

The U.S. Men’s National Team has already had to alter its roster for the Haiti series, with injuries to Gio Reyna and George Campbell forcing Mauricio Pochettino to bring in replacements before camp has even begun.

Campbell was the first to go. The West Bromwich Albion defender, who earned his first call-up in 2025 and saw action last window, suffered a groin injury in a club match on Tuesday and was ruled out. Pochettino had said he would wait on medical information and was already weighing other options. Toulouse’s Mark McKenzie, 27, is the replacement. He has 30 caps, started against Türkiye at the World Cup and was part of the team that beat Haiti at the 2025 Gold Cup. This is his first call-up since the World Cup.

Reyna’s exit was more dramatic. The 23-year-old scored for Strasbourg in a 3-1 loss to Toulouse, then signaled to the bench a few minutes later and limped off with what appeared to be a thigh injury. U.S. Soccer confirmed his withdrawal the next day. The timing stings, as Reyna was enjoying his longest run of regular club soccer in years and had started all four games in the last window, picking up two assists. He had also emerged as a leader in camp. His history of muscular injuries only adds to the frustration.

Fittingly, McKenzie scored Toulouse’s second goal in that match, heading home a corner, just before Reyna’s goal.

Stoke City midfielder Jack McGlynn takes Reyna’s place and arrives in strong form, having scored in three straight games for his club, including on Saturday.

The U.S. opens the series Nov. 14 in Miami, then hosts the second leg on Nov. 17 in Cincinnati, with a spot in the March semifinals at stake.

New Gold Cup Format

CONCACAF Revamps Format Ahead of 2027 Tournament

CONCACAF has overhauled the Gold Cup group stage, and the change should put the U.S. under more pressure from the opening match of the 2027 tournament. The event runs June 17 to July 11, with the draw set for April 8.

The old format of four groups of four is gone. The 16 teams will be split into two groups of eight, and each side will play four group matches instead of three. Teams are seeded into ranking bands, and a set fixture matrix gives each team one opponent from every band. The top four in each group advance to a single-elimination bracket, and group-stage placement decides the quarterfinal pairings. Concacaf president Victor Montagliani said the goal is to give top teams more chances to meet “earlier in the competition.”

For the U.S., the change ends the soft opening. Heavyweights have often eased through the group stage against much weaker opposition. Now every team will face a spread of opponents, so a ranking-band opponent will be on the schedule no matter what. Because each result counts toward the top-four cut and the quarterfinal draw, a slip in June could mean a tougher road later.

The stakes are also personal. The U.S. has seven Gold Cup titles, behind Mexico’s 10, which include the 2025 edition. Pochettino’s side lost that final with a second-string roster while key stars were absent. He has said the November camp is partly about gaining a clearer picture of how the team will arrive at next summer’s tournament, which will be played closer to a World Cup year than that one was.

First, the U.S. must beat Haiti. Winning the Nations League series clinches a place in the new-look Gold Cup and moves the Americans on to the March finals.

Pulisic, McKennie and Balogun Return

Faces of the USMNT Program Return for the First Time Since the World Cup

Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Folarin Balogun are back with the U.S. men’s national team for the first time since the World Cup, giving Mauricio Pochettino his three biggest stars for the opening games of the new cycle.

Pulisic’s return was always likely, even if his absence from the September-October window drew attention. Pochettino didn't elaborate on the omission, and Tyler Adams took over as captain as a young group won all four home friendlies. The AC Milan winger arrives in good form, with three goals in his last six matches. He leads the squad with 90 caps and has nine appearances for Milan this season. He and Cavan Sullivan could share the wings for the first time, a combination Pochettino will be watching closely.

McKennie missed the last window through injury but is back after shaking off a minor concern at Juventus. He has a goal and an assist in 10 matches for the club this season.

Balogun’s road back has been the bumpiest. His summer included the controversy over his World Cup red card, a collapsed move to Everton and a diminished role at Monaco, where all five of his Ligue 1 appearances this season have come off the bench. He ended a four-month goal drought over the weekend, his first goal since the World Cup. “It’s a great opportunity to keep helping Balo evolve after a tough summer,” Pochettino said, adding that the combination of Balogun, Justin Ellis and Julian Hall is “perfect” for this window.

The trio also have history in this competition. McKennie, Pulisic and Balogun have all lifted the Nations League trophy, and McKennie and Pulisic have each been named the tournament’s best player. Their experience should help steady a squad that blends veterans with teenagers.

Sullivan and Other Young Players Return

In Their First Chance for Competitive International Matches, the Young Players are Ready

The strong September-October window has paid off for the young players who made their debuts, with eight of the 13 first-time call-ups returning for the Haiti series: Cavan Sullivan, Julian Hall, Mathis Albert, Justin Ellis, Diego Kochen, Adri Mehmeti, Neil Pierre and Brian Schwake.

Sullivan is the most prominent. He became the youngest goalscorer in program history with his goal against Mexico, and the Philadelphia Union teenager now gets to share a camp with players he grew up watching. “It’s really full-circle to get the chance to play with some of the guys I’ve looked up to all my life,” he said. He could also face Union teammate Danley Jean Jacques, who plays for Haiti, and the two are already trading friendly barbs.

Hall’s call-up carries extra weight. The 18-year-old Red Bull New York striker scored in each of his first three caps and kept that form going in MLS. One appearance in this series would cap-tie him to the U.S. and close the door on playing for Poland. Pochettino said Hall fully deserves his place and praised his commitment to the American badge.

Albert, 17, scored against Peru last window despite barely playing for Borussia Dortmund lately. Pochettino called him one of the country’s most talented players and believes time with the national team can rebuild his confidence. Albert and Sullivan also add real winger depth, opening the door to a return to the 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 shapes Pochettino used early in his tenure.

Ellis and Hall are also valuable because Ricardo Pepi is still regaining fitness and was left at PSV to recover.

The key question is how this group meshes with the stars, since Sullivan and Pulisic, for instance, have never played together. Pochettino called chemistry the most important thing to watch in camp.

Pochettino Reveals Nations League Roster

Plenty of Youngsters Retain Their Place, While a Few World Cup Veterans Return

Mauricio Pochettino has named 25 players for the U.S. Men’s National Team’s training camp in Georgia, ahead of the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals against Haiti. The two-leg series, which opens Nov. 14 in Miami and concludes Nov. 17 in Cincinnati, is the first official competition of the new World Cup cycle. The aggregate winner earns a spot in the March 2027 Finals at SoFi Stadium.

The headline is the return of the program’s biggest names. Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Folarin Balogun are back for the first time since the World Cup, and they rejoin a group that also includes Tyler Adams, Antonee Robinson, Chris Richards, Sergiño Dest and Gio Reyna. Pulisic leads the squad with 90 caps.

Alongside those veterans are many of the young players who impressed during the unbeaten September-October window. Cavan Sullivan, Julian Hall, Mathis Albert and Justin Ellis all return, giving Pochettino fresh options on the wings and up front. With Ricardo Pepi still working back to full fitness, Hall and Ellis will likely support Balogun at striker. Pochettino said he wanted to see how the newer faces fit with the established stars, calling the combinations “the most important” thing.

Two players are uncapped call-ups: Nashville defender Reed Baker-Whiting and Paderborn midfielder Santiago Castañeda. Defender Bryan Reynolds also returns after an absence dating back to the 2023 Gold Cup.

One situation to watch is West Bromwich Albion defender George Campbell, who left a club match injured. Pochettino said he is waiting on medical updates and is already considering replacements.

The squad averages just under 24 years old, and Pochettino made clear that winning with the senior team comes first. The goal now is to blend youth and experience to start the Nations League campaign well.

First International Window of the New Cycle is Successful

The Americans Found Their Stride With Four Wins from Four Matches to Start the 2030 World Cup Cycle

The U.S. men’s national team’s first window since the World Cup ended with a perfect four wins from four, treating the camp as a laboratory. Mauricio Pochettino, whose side was knocked out by Belgium in the round of 16 this summer, rotated heavily and handed 13 players debuts, many of them teenagers.

The results were lopsided early. The Americans beat Peru 4-1 in Orlando, then Chile 4-2 in St. Louis, then Mexico 3-0 in Glendale. The finale against Canada was a bruising 1-0 affair that lacked the fluidity of the earlier games but showed a gritty side. The four matches saw 12 goals, and the run marked the program’s first four-game winning streak in official FIFA windows in more than five years.

The youngsters stole the show. Justin Ellis, 19, scored the window's opening goal and the winner at its close. Julian Hall, 18, scored in each of his first three appearances. Mathis Albert, 17, became the youngest scorer in U.S. history against Chile, a record that lasted four days before fellow 17-year-old Cavan Sullivan topped it against Mexico.

Others made their cases too. Brian Schwake earned a clean sheet in his first start, and Diego Kochen’s showing against Mexico could earn him another look. Gio Reyna started all four games, while Malik Tillman and Alex Freeman supplied much of the creativity.

Pochettino stressed that the younger players must seize their chances. “They need to be ready to take the opportunity,” he said. The harder question is who stays once the established names return. The next test is a Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal against Haiti in November.

Fourth Win of the Window

Ellis's Goal Was the Difference in American Victory Over Canada

Mauricio Pochettino’s United States closed out its fall camp the way it began, with a win, though this one was far less polished than the others. On Tuesday night in St. Paul, Minnesota, the Americans edged Canada 1-0 for a fourth victory in as many matches since their round-of-16 World Cup exit against Belgium.

Justin Ellis made the difference. The 19-year-old Orlando City striker, who also scored against Peru on Sept. 26, took a heavy challenge around the 20th minute and needed treatment on the touchline. He returned still limping, and by the 29th minute he was in the right spot when Alex Freeman delivered a cross, steering it into the net.

Little flowed after that. Canada played a physical game, and the contest became a scrappy back-and-forth as both coaches dug deep into their benches without finding a second goal. Pochettino changed six starters from the side that beat Mexico 3-0, including a first senior start for 17-year-old winger Mathis Albert, again blending youth and experience.

In goal, Nashville SC’s Brian Schwake earned a clean sheet in his first start. His standout moment came in the 63rd minute, when he got a hand to a close-range effort from Luc de Fougerolles and sent it off the crossbar.

Pochettino praised his players’ stamina after a compressed schedule. “The effort was massive,” he said, pointing to four games in two weeks. “I’m not happy because we won. I’m happy because of the performance and the commitment that the players showed.”

The U.S. now holds a 17-13-12 (WDL) all-time record against Canada. Next, the U.S. faces Haiti in a two-leg Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal in November, with a semifinal spot on the line. Canada will face Guatemala.