The US Men’s National Team roster has been announced for the Concacaf Nations League finals. The USMNT will begin their campaign on March 20 against Panama at SoFi Stadium, aiming for the first trophy of the Mauricio Pochettino era. Injuries to Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi, and Serginio Dest’s return to fitness not being sufficient for selection, have tested the team’s depth. However, Pochettino still has a strong starting XI to choose from, along with players ready to step up.
Antonee Robinson, Christian Pulisic, and Josh Sargent are likely to be key players, given their strong club form in 2025. The January camp also plays a significant role, with six participants now included in the Concacaf Nations League squad. Diego Luna, Brian White, and Patrick Agyemang are among those who could have an opportunity to make an impact, especially considering the team’s depth in their positions.
Gio Reyna has also been included in the squad, despite limited starts for Borussia Dortmund in 2025. While he has scored as a substitute, his lack of club playing time means Reyna will need to prove he deserves a starting place under Pochettino, despite his talent.
Roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): Patrick Schulte, Zack Steffen, Matt Turner
DEFENDERS (8): Cameron Carter-Vickers, Marlon Fossey, Mark McKenzie, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Joe Scally, Auston Trusty
MIDFIELDERS (6): Tyler Adams, Johnny Cardoso, Diego Luna, Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna, Tanner Tessmann
FORWARDS (6): Patrick Agyemang, Yunus Musah, Christian Pulisic, Josh Sargent, Timothy Weah, Brian White
Musah on the wing?
Yunus Musah’s inclusion as a forward might be noteworthy. While he has played on the wing for both Milan and the USMNT, this selection hints at Pochettino potentially using an attacking setup of Musah, Pulisic, and Weah supporting Sargent as the central forward. This dynamic approach was seemingly validated when Weah, identified as left-eye dominant by Pochettino, scored against Jamaica in the previous quarter-finals. Continuing this strategy in the current matches seems plausible.
Against Jamaica, this trio supported Ricardo Pepi, with McKennie and Tessmann in midfield. With Tyler Adams’ return, adjustments are possible, potentially allowing Pochettino to further enhance the attack, leveraging Adams’ ground coverage in midfield. Adams returns to the USMNT for the first time since Copa America 2024, adding midfield depth and flexibility for Pochettino to utilize Musah in different roles.
The impact of the Club World Cup
This international break is significant as it may be the last opportunity to involve players from Borussia Dortmund and Juventus before the Concacaf World Cup qualifying, due to the Club World Cup potentially clashing with summer international duties. Club priority during the CWC means Pochettino might not have these players available in the summer.
Pochettino stated Reyna was called up because of this limited future availability due to the Club World Cup. He acknowledged Reyna’s limited playing time but emphasized his quality and the need to assess him within the squad, especially as it’s Reyna’s first camp under Pochettino after missing previous matches due to injury. Pochettino highlighted the need to evaluate players like Reyna in meaningful games, unlike those previously assessed like Brenden Aaronson and Alejandro Zendejas, who were not selected this time. Pochettino emphasized squad selection is a “numbers game” with only 23 players selected for this camp.
Pochettino believes Reyna “deserved to be here” and can still improve, needing to be pushed and understood within the team’s playing style, aiming to win the competition with Reyna’s potential contribution. He aims to build a working relationship with Reyna to maximize his impact.
Ultimately, Reyna needs to prove his place, which Pochettino understands, noting it’s easier to motivate a player when there’s something at stake.
Too much depth?
Pochettino’s press conference highlighted the team’s considerable depth. When questioned about Aaronson and Zendejas’ exclusion, Pochettino reiterated “It’s about numbers.” With emerging players like Diego Luna and Reyna, Pochettino faces the challenge of finding the optimal balance. This might mean players like Aaronson, whose versatility could paradoxically count against him, might not fit in the current setup.
While Aaronson can play various midfield and wing roles, his ideal position is somewhat undefined. Pochettino’s shift towards a 4-2-3-1 formation, compared to a 4-3-3, might limit space for such players, especially with Musah potentially occupying a wing position. However, Pochettino implied no player is completely out of consideration, noting the inclusion of Brian White, Patrick Agyemang, and Diego Luna, who impressed in the January camp and will get opportunities to prove themselves against strong opposition.
Addressing previous depth concerns, Pochettino is aiming to turn it into a strength by integrating younger players. This development is crucial for the USMNT’s competitiveness in the 2026 World Cup.
