Mauricio Pochettino’s first United States men’s national team roster since the 2026 World Cup is set to drop on Thursday, and the biggest question floating around is whether Christian Pulisic will even make the cut. Forget the relative ease of predicting the World Cup squad, Poch’s post-tournament lineup is a total head-scratcher, especially with the USMNT lined up for stateside exhibition games against Peru, Chile, Canada, and historic rival Mexico.
Pulisic’s 31-Minute Audition and the Kid Who Can’t Stop Scoring
Pulisic’s situation is just bizarre, right? He was an unused substitution in AC Milan’s first three games this new season. But then, on Saturday, he finally hit the pitch, coming off the bench for the final 31 minutes against Lazio. What did he do? He snagged an assist that helped the Rossoneri salvage a point! The question now is if that quick burst of action is enough for Pochettino to recall the USA’s longtime headliner. Meanwhile, someone who absolutely has earned his spot is Cavan Sullivan. This 16-year-old Philadelphia Union prodigy is on fire, scoring twice on Sunday night in a dominant 5-0 drubbing of San Diego. He’s been directly involved in goals for seven consecutive matches, racking up five goals and six assists in that unbelievable stretch. Given there’s no under-23 national team programming until November, and Sullivan is already pegged as a key figure for the 2028 Olympic squad, his inclusion feels like a done deal. That playmaking winger is going to be a force.
Goalkeepers Galore and the Race to 2030
Pochettino, who signed a new four-year contract after leading the USMNT to the Round of 16 in the World Cup, is apparently looking to bring in four keepers for this September/October camp. He said on Labor Day he’d mix youngsters and World Cup veterans, even suggesting 30 players overall, with four goalies, would be summoned to Atlanta starting September 20. World Cup starter Freese, 28, got crucial experience and looks ready for the next four years. Brady, the USA’s No. 3 behind Freese and Matt Turner last year, has been superb for the Chicago Fire. The 25-year-old Schwake has been even better for league-leading Nashville, while Barcelona prospect Kochen, just 20, is finally getting first team stats on loan in Denmark. Poor Matt Turner, the 2022 No. 1, lost his spot to Freese last year and will be 36 by the 2030 World Cup. He could definitely be the odd man out in this camp as the race is wide open. For fullbacks, names like Luca Bombino, Max Arfsten, Joe Scally, and Tim Weah just missed out on this potential squad.
This first post-World Cup roster announcement on Thursday isn’t just about exhibition games, it’s about kicking off the 2030 World Cup cycle! We’re going to see who Pochettino sees as the core, who’s the next generation, and what kind of identity this team builds heading into those big exhibition matches. It’s going to be wild to see how it all shakes out!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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