Nations League Preliminary Roster

60 Players are Available for Selection in March

The recently revealed preliminary roster for the CONCACAF Nations League Final Four shows that the U.S. Men's National Team appears well-positioned for the upcoming semifinals. The 60-man provisional list includes many of the program's top performers and some emerging talents.

Key veterans Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Gio Reyna headline the roster, providing the experience and quality crucial in tournament play. The midfield looks particularly strong, with Tyler Adams, Brenden Aaronson, Yunus Musah, and Johnny Cardoso all named to the provisional squad—though Reyna is the only one mentioned above who has not seen consistent playing time this winter.

As mentioned earlier, Josh Sargent's impressive form makes his inclusion in the attack opportune. The striker position remains competitive, with Jesus Ferreira also in contention. 

Several players demonstrated strong starts to MLS over the weekend. Jordan Morris made a statement with a brace in Seattle's 2-2 draw against Charlotte FC, while Djordje Mihailović scored twice in Colorado Rapids' 2-1 victory over LAFC in Concacaf Champions Cup play. Goalkeeper Zack Steffen also impressed, earning a clean sheet in Colorado's MLS season opener against St. Louis CITY.

Noahkai Banks and Damion Downs are among the few new names mentioned. At the same time, notable absences include injured players Folarin Balogun, Sergino Dest, Malik Tillman, and Ricardo Pepi, along with Haji Wright. Despite his recent playing time in the Eredivisie, PSV's Richy Ledezma's omission comes as a surprise.

The final 23-man roster will be announced by March 10, giving coach Mauricio Pochettino difficult decisions ahead of the semifinal against Panama on March 20 in Inglewood, California. The winner will face either Mexico or Canada in the final on March 23.

The USMNT qualified for the semifinals in November with a 4-2 aggregate victory over Trinidad and Tobago, and expectations are high that they will defend their Nations League title.

Richard's First Premier League Goal

On This Day in 2024, the Fro'd Centerback Nodded Home His First League Goal for Crystal Palace in the Club's Victory over Burnley

It took some time for Chris Richards to establish himself in England following the €12-million move to Crystal Palace from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2022. A leg injury in October halted his progress at the club, and he wouldn't make his first start in the Premier League until January 2023.

After a productive summer of 2023, where Richards scored his first US goal in the 2-0 win over Canada in the Nations League Final, the American returned to the bench for a majority of the first half of the season. However, with a growing injury list and lacking depth at certain positions, Richards was handed his first start of the season at central defensive midfield in the 1-1 draw with West Ham on December 3. Over the next three months, Richards started in 12-straight matches before the February 24 match against Burnley.

His moment of glory came in the 68th minute at Selhurst Park, breaking a tense deadlock against 10-man Burnley. After Palace recycled possession from a cleared corner, Jordan Ayew delivered an inviting cross from the right wing. Unmarked at the back post, Richards showed excellent anticipation to arrive at the perfect moment, stooping low to power home a header that would open the floodgates for Palace's victory.

Richards later told the official Crystal Palace website about his goal-scoring technique with characteristic humor. When asked if he had considered volleying instead, he said, "Nah, nah, no—I grew the Fro out so I could head it. I was ready for it."

The goal proved pivotal in Oliver Glasner's first match as Palace manager, with the Eagles scoring twice more through Jordan Ayew and Jean-Philippe Mateta. Operating on the left side of Glasner's newly implemented back three, Richards put in a composed performance beyond just his goal, completing 53-of-57 passes while helping Palace control possession throughout the match.

The victory is especially significant for Palace, as it pushes them eight points clear of the relegation zone and marks their biggest home league win since April 2022. For Richards, it represents another significant step forward in his development. He had proven he could impact both ends of the pitch in England's top flight. His first goal for the club couldn't have come at a better time, helping to usher in the Glasner era with a memorable victory.

As Crystal Palace made a strong push at the end of the season, Richards was right in the mix, starting and playing every minute in the last six Premier League matches. The Eagles earned 16 out of 18 points, finishing in 10th place—the club's joint-highest finish since promotion in 2013.

Sargent Scores Seventh in Six

Striker Notched Another Brace in Norwich's Win over Stoke

Josh Sargent continued his remarkable scoring form with a brilliant double as Norwich City secured a crucial 4-2 victory over Stoke City at Carrow Road on Saturday. The American striker's second-half brace helped the Canaries maintain their Championship play-off push, taking his tally to seven goals in his last six appearances.

After Lewis Dobbin had given Norwich a first-half lead, only for Lewis Baker to equalize before the break, Sargent took center stage with two contrasting but equally impressive finishes. His first came in the 48th minute, showing his predatory instincts to fire home after good work from Borja Sainz and Ante Crnac. However, his second goal truly showcased his growing confidence and technical ability, as he wrong-footed the Stoke defense before curling a magnificent left-footed effort into the top corner from 20 yards out.

"Quality-wise, without the scorpion kick against Watford, because that's a reaction, I think I'm probably the happiest with that one," Sargent reflected after the match. "It went exactly where I wanted to hit it, and it was a good goal. Jack Wilshere was saying in the dressing room that when I did it, he was saying, 'No, don't cut onto your left.' And he was like, 'alright, fair enough.'"

Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup praised his in-form striker, who now has 15 goal contributions in just 20 Championship appearances this season. "For what we're doing here, I think probably Josh is the best fit for us, because he can hold the ball well and he can link up with the other offensive players," Thorup said. "He has a very good timing when to arrive in the box, and then you also have his pace that we need sometimes to be able to run in behind. I'm not swapping him with anyone else."

The victory, sealed by a Junior Tchamadeu own goal before Baker's late penalty, leaves Norwich four points behind sixth-placed Blackburn Rovers ahead of their crucial clash at Ewood Park next weekend. With Sargent in this form, the Canaries' play-off hopes remain alive.

Pulisic's First Missed Penalty

Winger's Penalty Saved As Milan Falls to Torino

Christian Pulisic experienced the first penalty miss of his professional career as AC Milan suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Torino in Serie A on Saturday. The American forward's perfect record from the spot, which included 12 successful conversions stretching back to 2014, ended when Torino goalkeeper Sergej Milinkovic-Savic saved his first-half effort.

The crucial moment came in the 31st minute after a handball by a Torino defender gave Milan a chance to equalize following an early own goal by Malick Thiaw. Pulisic stepped up confidently, having previously converted seven penalties for the U.S. national team, three for Milan, one for Borussia Dortmund's youth team, and one for the U.S. Under-17s. However, his low strike was well-read by Milinkovic-Savic, who dove to his right to make the save.

The miss proved costly for Milan, who had to wait until the 74th minute for Tijjani Reijnders to level the score. Two minutes later, Torino substitute Gvidas Gineitis restored the hosts' lead. The defeat left Milan in seventh place, six points adrift of the Champions League places.

Reflecting on a difficult evening, Pulisic took to social media to address Milan's supporters. "Really tough week. Hate letting down this amazing fan base. Will give everything to finish this season on a positive note," he wrote on Instagram. The save continued an impressive run of form for Milinkovic-Savic, who has now saved four of the five penalties he has faced this season – more than any other goalkeeper in Europe's top five leagues.

Pulisic will look to bounce back when Milan faces Bologna on Thursday. The American is expected to retain his place in the starting lineup as the Rossoneri attempt to revive their faltering top-four hopes.

Rare Start for Gio

Midfielder Made Second League Start of the Season in Dortmund Victory

Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac gave Giovanni Reyna a rare start on Saturday, playing 70 minutes in an attacking midfield role as BVB secured an emphatic 6-0 victory over Union Berlin. The appearance marked just the second Bundesliga start of the season for the U.S. international, who has struggled for consistent playing time throughout the campaign.

Despite contributing to a convincing team victory, Reyna had a relatively quiet individual performance. The 22-year-old managed just one touch inside the opposition penalty area. While he maintained solid passing accuracy, completing 20 of 23 attempts, his defensive contribution was less effective, with only three successful tackles from seven attempts in midfield.

Notably, Dortmund's attack came alive after Reyna's substitution in the 70th minute, with the team scoring four times in the final 20 minutes. It was Reyna's first start since the Champions League appearance against Bologna on January 21. The win was highlighted by a remarkable four-goal performance from striker Serhou Guirassy.

The rare start comes at a crucial time for Reyna's future, as he enters the final year of his contract with Dortmund. The club is reportedly open to reasonable transfer offers, having previously been willing to sell him for around €20m last January. Since the start of the 2021 season, Reyna has started just 12 Bundesliga games, with injuries and coaching changes contributing to his limited opportunities.

Dortmund hopes this commanding victory can spark a turnaround in their domestic form, as it has represented only their second Bundesliga win since the start of 2025. They return to action next Saturday against FC St. Pauli, with Reyna hoping his performance was enough to retain his place in Kovac's starting lineup.