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Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentNov 10, 2024, 10:00 AM ET
- Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC.
United States men’s national team manager Mauricio Pochettino has named a 25-player roster to compete in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals this week against Jamaica.
Among those included are AC Milan‘s Christian Pulisic and the Juventus duo of Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah.
The quarterfinal matchup will be contested over two legs, with the first leg to be played in Kingston, Jamaica, on Nov. 14 and the second leg contested in St. Louis four days later. In 10 meetings in Jamaica, the U.S. has a record of 3-1-6.
Players will report to the camp on Sunday and Monday, with the team departing Wednesday afternoon for Jamaica.
Pochettino will have a greater number of first-choice players available compared to last month’s international window, the Argentine’s first in charge. Weah is recalled for the first time since his red card against Panama in the Copa América, and his subsequent suspension will carry over into the first leg in Kingston.
“We select 25 players on the roster and we try to find the best balance, thinking not only about [performing] today if not to build something for 2026,” Pochettino told a news conference on Sunday.
“That is the main objective. Of course the objective is always about to win because we need to be competitive but it’s important because we are not going to have too many camps to see players.”
Other returnees include Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards, Fulham defender Antonee Robinson and Real Betis midfielder Johnny Cardoso. Pochettino will also get his first looks at Barcelona Atletic goalkeeper Diego Kochen and CD Guadalajara forward Cade Cowell.
However, a host of regulars miss out for the U.S. with fitness concerns. Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams just recently returned to play after a lengthy injury layoff due to back surgery. Monaco forward Folarin Balogun continues to recover from a separated shoulder, while Norwich City striker Josh Sargent recently underwent groin surgery that is set to sideline him for up to eight weeks. Coventry City’s Haji Wright also suffered an ankle injury late in Sunday’s match against Sunderland.
“He [Adams] is a highly important player for USA, for us, and I consider him personally a very important player for the future of this team. But the most important thing now is to see the progression. He came from a difficult moment. Yesterday, he played 60 minutes, 65 minutes,” Pochettino said.
“I think it was important for him to see and for us so happy to see the evolution of him. But in the same time we know very well that we need to look after him if we want to have him in the best condition for 2026.”
The injuries to Balogun, Sargent and Wright mean plenty of eyes will be on the group of forwards which in addition to Cowell includes PSV Eindhoven’s Ricardo Pepi and Monterrey FC’s Brandon Vázquez.
The roster does seem light on outside defenders, with just Robinson and Joe Scally having extensive experience in those roles. That hints that Pochettino may resort to playing with three defenders plus wingbacks, though Richards and Charlotte FC defender Tim Ream have played at outside back in the past in a four-back system.
The USMNT is aiming to win its fourth straight CNL, having previously claimed every edition of the tournament since the first final was held in 2021.
USMNT Nov. training camp roster:
Goalkeepers: Diego Kochen (FC Barcelona Atletic), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace)
Defenders: Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Auston Trusty (Celtic)
Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Gianluca Busio (Venezia), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough), Yunus Musah (AC Milan), Tanner Tessmann (Lyon), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven)
Forwards: Cade Cowell (Guadalajara), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Brandon Vázquez (Monterrey), Tim Weah (Juventus), Alex Zendejas (Club América)
