Thirteen uncapped players just got the call for the USMNT’s fall friendlies, kicking off a full-blown generational shift after the World Cup exit. Coach Mauricio Pochettino isn’t messing around, and this new cycle is already looking like something special with a fresh squad mixed with some familiar faces.
This Is the Next Wave, Y’all
Pochettino is leading the charge on what he’s called a “generational shift” for the national team’s first games post-World Cup. We’re talking 13 brand-new, uncapped players joining the squad for these fall friendlies! Seriously, thirteen! They’re getting mixed in with 12 veterans from this year’s World Cup team, giving us a totally new look for the USMNT. Pochettino himself said this group has “individual and collective potential” that could make them the “most exciting generation of talent the U.S. men’s program has ever produced.” That’s high praise, and you gotta love seeing the coach hype up his new guys like that. Expect to see plenty of these new faces hit the pitch as soon as Saturday’s friendly against Peru, which kicks off a jam-packed international window with four games. Pochettino plans to mix up the lineup, getting some of the new, young players in there with the senior guys.
Patience is the Playbook
What’s even wilder is Pochettino’s approach to these new players. He’s preached patience, flat out saying he’s “not talking that they need to perform.” How refreshing is that? It’s all about striking a balance. After spending eight days at the U.S. Soccer’s national training center in the suburbs of Atlanta back in late spring, Pochettino noted he’s back there now “with less stress” than during World Cup prep. This chill vibe extends to the players. Longtime midfielder Tyler Adams pointed out how different this feels compared to his own entry into the national team roughly eight years ago. Adams said his generation came in “off the cusp of obviously not qualifying for a World Cup” in 2018, and they basically “need[ed] to play right now and need[ed] to perform right now.” This new crew? Less pressure, more time to develop. That’s a smart play from Pochettino, letting these kids breathe and grow without the immediate weight of the world on their shoulders.
This Saturday’s friendly against Peru is just the beginning for this new-look USMNT, the first of four big games in this international break. Get ready to see the future of U.S. Soccer start to unfold!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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