Gold Cup Roster Confirmed

Youth Movement Signals New Era for the National Team

Mauricio Pochettino has assembled a notably youthful 26-player roster for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, signaling a new direction for American soccer as the nation prepares to host the 2026 World Cup. With an average age of just over 25 years, this represents one of the youngest Gold Cup squads in USMNT history.

The roster construction reflects both opportunity and necessity. Key absences have forced Pochettino to dig deep into the player pool, with Christian Pulisic sidelined due to fatigue and Antonee Robinson recovering from knee surgery. The Juventus pair of Weston McKennie and Tim Weah, and (for now) Dortmund's Gio Reyna, remain unavailable due to their Club World Cup commitments, while Sergiño Dest's withdrawal, due to concerns over ACL recovery, further depletes veteran options.

However, these challenges have created opportunities for emerging talent. Five players earn their first senior call-ups, including goalkeeper Chris Brady, who backstopped the U-20 team to CONCACAF championship glory. Sebastian Berhalter has impressed with Vancouver Whitecaps' run to the Champions Cup final, while Damion Downs contributed 10 goals to FC Köln's Bundesliga promotion campaign.

The attacking corps brings genuine firepower despite its youth. Brian White sits third in MLS's Golden Boot race with 10 goals, while Haji Wright netted 12 times for Coventry City in England's Championship. Veteran Brenden Aaronson's nine goals helped Leeds United return to the Premier League, and Malik Tillman finished as PSV's second-leading scorer in their title-winning campaign despite missing time with injury.

Perhaps most intriguingly, brothers Brenden and Paxten Aaronson become the first siblings to share a Gold Cup roster in USMNT history. Their potential joint appearance would mark only the second time brothers have played together in official competition since 1957.

"We are extremely excited to work with this group of players and compete for the championship," Pochettino stated, emphasizing tournament victory as the primary objective before World Cup preparations intensify.