Mauricio Pochettino’s bold USMNT squad assembly delivered a perfect 4-0-0 record in their recent international break, a run that definitely delivered much better results than anyone could’ve reasonably expected from such an experimental lineup. The Yanks took down Peru and Chile on home soil, then posted solid wins against North American rivals Mexico and Canada. This was a statement.
The “Experimental” Squad Is Rolling, And It’s Wild
Let’s just look at those results: a 4-1 win over Peru on September 26, then a 4-2 thrashing of Chile on September 29. The boys followed that up with a clean 3-0 victory against Mexico on October 3, and capped it off with a gritty 1-0 win over Canada on October 6. That’s a serious return to action after their World Cup Round of 16 exit. This squad responded big, especially considering it was a camp without massive names like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Timothy Weah. Seriously, those guys, plus World Cup captain Tim Ream, were all out of the picture.
Instead, newly-permanent captain Tyler Adams stepped up, joined by Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, and Malik Tillman in shouldering the leadership load. And talk about clutch performances from the youth! Pochettino’s gamble paid off, with multiple teenage center forwards delivering starring performances after Ricardo Pepi pulled out with an injury and Folarin Balogun stayed in Monaco. This is a brand new cycle, and Pochettino’s got a CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal tie with Haiti next month. The big question now is, who even makes the cut for that?
Roster Headaches Before Haiti: MLS Playoffs and Absences Loom
The CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Haiti is coming fast, with the home leg in Cincinnati on November 17. The MLS Cup Playoffs kick off as early as November 18 with a wild card match, and that’s going to create some serious roster challenges for Pochettino. Obviously, players need to be healthy and stay in form, but Haji Wright, for instance, is unlikely to be ready. More crucially, several players from this 4-0-0 September/October roster could find their clubs deep in those MLS playoff games. We’re talking about Red Bulls stars Julian Hall and Adri Mehmeti, Orlando City’s Justin Ellis, and Philadelphia’s Cavan Sullivan, Neil Pierre, and Frankie Westfield. The Union are flying right now, so their playoff run could be real.
Pochettino’s shown he’s got the power to flex his squad choices, but not calling in some of the big names for a second-straight window creates a discussion no one needs. It also sacrifices an opportunity to see how players like Pulisic and his crew respond to being left out in September and October. This upcoming camp is going to be fascinating.
The Goalkeeper Battle Gets Complicated
Goalkeeper is another spot that’s going to get tricky. Diego Kochen will likely be back in the fold as the lone European backstop. But Matt Freese’s NYCFC could very well be in the wild card playoffs, which might push the other spots towards Brian Schwake from Nashville SC and Chris Brady from the Chicago Fire. Their teams could have some relief on the playoff schedule. It’d be a bit easier if Freese, Andrew Thomas, Roman Celentano, or JT Marcinkowski were to miss the playoffs entirely. Other American keepers in Europe, like Jonathan Klinsmann from Cesena, have seen call-ups in recent windows, and Gaga Slonina is another name in the mix.
The next challenge against Haiti is massive for this new-look USMNT. With all these factors in play, it’s going to be a true test of this squad’s depth and Pochettino’s vision as they push for the CONCACAF Nations League.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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