Pochettino's First Roster of the New Cycle

First Roster After the World Cup Features 13 Uncapped Players

The U.S. men’s national team begins its post-World Cup chapter with a roster that looks more like a youth movement than a continuation. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino named 28 players for the September-October window, which features matches against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada, and the group averages 22 years and nine months, more than four years younger than the World Cup squad.

Thirteen players are uncapped, led by 16-year-old Philadelphia Union attacker Cavan Sullivan, who could become one of the youngest players ever to represent the U.S. Borussia Dortmund’s Mathis Albert, Red Bull New York’s Julian Hall and Adri Mehmeti, as well as Orlando City’s Justin Ellis, also earned first caps. Notable omissions include Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Folarin Balogun and World Cup captain Tim Ream, who will be honored in St. Louis against Chile.

Pochettino framed the changes as a reset. “It’s a fresh start. It’s a new cycle,” he said, adding that past performance alone no longer guarantees a place. The federation also wants more young players in the mix with an eye toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Experience remains in the spine, with Tyler Adams and Antonee Robinson leading the group at 58 caps apiece, followed by Yunus Musah, Sergiño Dest and Gio Reyna. The goalkeeper job looks wide open, with Matt Freese challenged by Brian Schwake, Diego Kochen and Chris Brady.

The forward line took a hit when Ricardo Pepi withdrew after just nine minutes with a muscle injury in PSV’s loss to Twente. St. Louis City’s Damion Downs, on loan from Southampton, replaces him. Pepi’s absence leaves Downs and Hall as the only true strikers, while Ellis, Sullivan and Cole Campbell offer different attacking profiles.

The U.S. opens against Peru on September 26.