Balancing immediate competitive goals with long-term squad development, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino has recalled Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, and Weston McKennie for the upcoming Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal against Haiti, alongside potential debutants Reed Baker-Whiting and Santiago Castañeda.
Unveiled on Wednesday, the 25-man selection features 19 players involved in September and October friendlies. The squad retains half of the 26 players from this year’s World Cup, including 10 starters from the tournament-ending defeat to Belgium, with six players under age 20.
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“It’s very important for us to add more options, more players with the possibility to challenge the familiar faces,” Pochettino said during an online news conference from London.
Pulisic returns after missing exhibition wins against Peru, Chile, Mexico, and Canada while recovering from a right tibia and fibula microfracture suffered in the 4-1 round-of-16 loss to Belgium at the World Cup.
Balogun, whose red-card suspension at the World Cup was controversially set aside following a phone call from U.S. President Donald Trump to Fifa head Gianni Infantino, was left out of those friendlies after sitting out Monaco’s opening four Ligue 1 fixtures following a failed transfer to Everton. He has made five substitute appearances since.
“It’s a great opportunity to keep helping him to evolve after a tough summer, after the World Cup,” Pochettino said.
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The group’s youngest contingent is led by striker Cavan Sullivan, who made his senior debut in September two days before turning 17 and became the youngest U.S. goalscorer a week later against Mexico. The roster also features 17-year-old midfielders Mathis Albert and Adri Mehmeti, 18-year-old forward Julian Hall, 19-year-old forward Justin Ellis, and 19-year-old defender Neil Pierre.
Baker-Whiting, a Nashville right back, and Castañeda, a Paderborn midfielder, are both 21.
Defender Bryan Reynolds, 25, earns his first call-up since the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup after making his international debut at age 19 in 2021.
“They deserve the possibility to be with us, for us to feel them and for them to to see how they can fit in our national team,” Pochettino said.
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Players left out include goalkeeper Matt Turner, defenders Max Arfsten, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Mark McKenzie, and Joe Scally, midfielder Aidan Morris, and winger Tim Weah.
Following training in Georgia, the 16th-ranked Americans will play 84th-ranked Haiti on Nov. 14 in Miami and Nov. 17 in Cincinnati. The aggregate winner will secure a berth in the Nations League semifinals scheduled for March 22-30 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Players dropped from the September squad include goalkeeper Chris Brady, defenders Miles Robinson and Frankie Westfield, midfielders Zavier Gozo and Yunus Musah, and forwards Cole Campbell and Damion Downs.
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Several unselected players will join the under-23 team preparing for the 2028 Olympic Games, with that training camp roster set to be announced Thursday.
Injuries ruled out defender Miles Robinson, midfielder Johnny Cardoso, and forwards Haji Wright and Alejandro Zendejas. Striker Ricardo Pepi was also left off following a leg muscle injury that kept him out from Sept. 20 until last Saturday.
Defender George Campbell was selected but left West Bromwich Albion’s match on Tuesday due to an injury and could be replaced.
Goalkeepers: Matt Freese (New York City), Diego Kochen (Lyngby), Brian Schwake (Nashville).
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Defenders: Reed Baker-Whiting (Nashville), George Campbell (West Bromwich Albion), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Neil Pierre (Philadelphia), Bryan Reynolds (Rennes), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Auston Trusty (Celtic).
Midfielders: Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Mathis Albert (Borussia Dortmund), Sebastian Berhalter (Middlesbrough), Santiago Castañeda (Paderborn), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Adri Mehmeti (New York Red Bulls), Gio Reyna (Strasbourg), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen).
Forwards: Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Justin Ellis (Orlando), Julian Hall (New York Red Bulls), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia).
