Mauricio Pochettino has named his first United States men’s national team roster since the 2026 World Cup, kicking off the 2030 cycle with a mix of returning veterans and a large group of young players. The most discussed omission is Christian Pulisic.
When asked about Pulisic’s absence, Pochettino kept his comments short. “The 28 players that are going to be involved in these four games, for different circumstances, are the best players we want to see and we want to work with. That’s it,” he said. He added that he did not want to discuss every player left off the squad.
The four friendlies run from September 26 to October 6 against Peru in Orlando, Chile in St. Louis, Mexico in Glendale, Arizona, and Canada in St. Paul, Minnesota. These matches form the only unofficial window before CONCACAF Nations League resumes later in the year.
Why Pulisic Was Omitted
Pulisic, long the face of the USMNT, recently returned from a World Cup microfracture injury and appeared off the bench for AC Milan. His omission appears tied to limited early-season minutes at club level, the chance to evaluate other players in a non-competitive window, and earlier tension over his decision to skip the 2025 Gold Cup.
Pochettino has previously made clear that players cannot dictate the team’s schedule. Other World Cup contributors such as Folarin Balogun and Weston McKennie were also left out while they rebuild fitness or form at their clubs.
New Faces Lead the Transition
The standout inclusion is 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan of the Philadelphia Union. Sullivan, who turns 17 during camp, has been one of MLS’s most productive attackers since the World Cup break. He is joined by Union teammates Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield, along with other teenagers including Mathis Albert of Borussia Dortmund, Julian Hall, Adri Mehmeti, and Zavier Gozo.
If Sullivan plays in any of the matches, he would become one of the youngest players ever to appear for the senior USMNT.
Yunus Musah earned a recall after a strong start at AC Milan. Experienced players such as Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna, Malik Tillman, Antonee Robinson, and Ricardo Pepi remain in the group to provide leadership.
What This Roster Signals
This camp is built as an evaluation period rather than a results-first window. With four years until the 2030 World Cup, Pochettino is using the extra matches to widen the player pool and test new combinations.
Pulisic remains an important part of the program’s future. His absence from this particular squad simply reflects the coach’s stated priority of working with the group he considers best suited for these four games. How the young players perform, and how quickly established stars regain consistency at club level, will shape the next international windows.