{"id":7485,"date":"2026-10-29T20:46:52","date_gmt":"2026-10-29T20:46:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/?p=7485"},"modified":"2026-10-29T20:46:52","modified_gmt":"2026-10-29T20:46:52","slug":"usa-roster-prediction-who-makes-pochettinos-nations-league-quarterfinal-squad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/?p=7485","title":{"rendered":"USA Roster Prediction: Who Makes Pochettino&#039;s Nations League Quarterfinal Squad?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"subnav-title ff-ffc bold fs-23 lh-25 uc pd-b-10\">\n            POPULAR SEARCHES\n          <\/p>\n<p class=\"subnav-title ff-ffc bold fs-23 lh-25 uc pd-b-10\">\n            BROWSE BY\n          <\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-baabd5ed>For all the excitement that a youth-heavy U.S. men\u2019s national team generated earlier this fall in the Stars and Stripes&#8217; first games since the 2026 FIFA World Cup, don\u2019t expect the roster that coach Mauricio Pochettino drops next week ahead of the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals vs. Haiti to include quite as many fresh faces.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-baabd5ed>Sure, emerging teenage stars Julian Hall and Cavan Sullivan deserve to be included after helping the U.S. top Mexico, Canada, Chile and Peru in late September and early October and continuing to produce in MLS.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-baabd5ed>Those games didn\u2019t count in any standings, though. In this two-leg, total-goals-wins series with Les Grenadiers<i>, <\/i>a spot in<i> <\/i>March\u2019s final four is on the line. That means that most of the rest of the youngsters will instead report to camps in Europe for the U.S. under-20s and U-23s \u2014 the latter of which will double as the men\u2019s Olympic squad in 2028 \u2014 while some of the most experienced Americans come back in.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-baabd5ed>Who will Poch pick? My best guesses are below.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-baabd5ed><i>*Denotes a player who is injured<\/i><br \/><i>**Denotes a player age-eligible for the 2028 Olympics<\/i><\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-baabd5ed><strong>JUMP TO: <\/strong><strong>Strikers<\/strong><strong> | <\/strong><strong>Wingers<\/strong><strong> | <\/strong><strong>Midfielders<\/strong><strong> | <\/strong><strong>Center Backs<\/strong><strong> | <\/strong><strong>Fullbacks<\/strong><strong> | <\/strong><strong>Goalkeepers<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-baabd5ed><strong>Just missed out:<\/strong>\u00a0Ricardo Pepi*, Haji Wright*, Patrick Agyemang*, Zavier Gozo**, Brian White, Milan Iloski*, Preston Judd<\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-baabd5ed>In a perfect world, Ellis and Hall would continue their development with Steve Cherundolo\u2019s squad. But with Balogun having barely played this season and Pepi, Wright and Agyemang all unavailable, Pochettino might have no choice but to bring one or both of them back to the senior team next month.<\/p>\n<p><span>Folarin Balogun this summer during the knockout round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (Photo by Jane Gershovich\/ISI Photos\/ISI Photos via Getty Images)<\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-baabd5ed>With a trip to the Nations League finals at stake, Poch probably has to call in Balogun, too, even though a knee issue has limited the USA\u2019s breakout star of the World Cup to just four substitute appearances for Monaco and a total of 74 minutes played since the summer. If not, don\u2019t sleep on White. The 30-year-old Vancouver Whitecaps veteran has 18 goals in MLS and a bruising style that matches up well against the physical Haitians.<\/p>\n<p class=\"usw-fn\"><b>Note:<\/b>\u00a0Sullivan is also age-eligible for the 2028 Olympics.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-baabd5ed><strong>Just missed out:<\/strong>\u00a0Brenden Aaronson, Mathis Albert**, Cole Campbell**, Diego Luna*, Alex Zendejas, Peyton Miller**<\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-baabd5ed>As lineup mainstays for their clubs, Dest and Reyna are shoo-ins. Pulisic\u2019s inclusion isn\u2019t as certain. Lead U.S. assistant coach Jesus Perez was inside Milan\u2019s San Siro Stadium on Wednesday, where he watched Pulisic come off the bench in the hosts\u2019 4-2 loss to Bologna. Still, Pulisic, who scored his second goal of the Italian season last weekend, probably returns for the first time since the World Cup.<\/p>\n<p><span>Cavan Sullivancelebrates scoring against Mexico in a friendly earlier this month. (Photo by Taylor Banner\/USSF\/Getty Images)<\/span> <!--&gt;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-baabd5ed>Sullivan earned a re-call following a fine September\/October camp. Will he be ready? A sore ankle has forced the 17-year-old to miss the Union\u2019s last two games. If Sullivan doesn\u2019t feature in Cincinnati on Saturday, another Philly-area native \u2014 Brenden Aaronson \u2014 could get the call. Last weekend, Aaronson made his first Premier League start in four games for Leeds United. Now healthy again, Zendejas is another option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-baabd5ed>Meanwhile, the 17-year-old Albert has logged just 21 Bundesliga minutes for Borussia Dortmund this season. So expect him to be summoned by Cherundolo (or even the U.S. U-20s). Same goes for Campbell and Miller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-baabd5ed><strong>Just missed out:<\/strong> Johnny Cardoso*,\u00a0Tanner Tessmann, Adri Mehmeti**, Brooklyn Raines**, Gianluca Busio*<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-baabd5ed>McKennie, omitted in September after having just returned from a minor ailment, is a no-brainer. He\u2019s started each of Juve's eight games since then, playing all but one minute of the last five. Berhalter has become an automatic callup, and while Musah hasn\u2019t been great for AC Milan, he has started four of the Rossoneri\u2019s last five matches and went the distance on Wednesday with Perez in the house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span>Weston McKennie playing this summer during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (Photo by Emma Ottosen\/ISI Photos\/ISI Photos via Getty Images)<\/span> --><\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-baabd5ed>The oft-injured Cardoso appeared poised for a recall after ankle surgery cost him a World Cup trip, but now the Atl\u00e9tico Madrid man is sidelined by a hamstring strain. Though Tessmann is beginning to find his form for Lyon, that opens the door for Morris, who has been sensational all season for Premier League promotion race-leading Boro.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-baabd5ed><strong>Just missed out:<\/strong> Neil Pierre**, George Campbell, Cameron Carter-Vickers<\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-baabd5ed>Richards produced his best performance of the season Wednesday in Palace\u2019s 1-0 EFL Cup win over London rivals Fulham; the 26-year-old remains the USA\u2019s defensive anchor.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><span>Chris Richards looks for an open teammate during a friendly against Canada earlier this month. (Photo by Robin Alam\/ISI Photos\/ISI Photos via Getty Images)<\/span> <!--&gt;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-baabd5ed>Trusty, who started three of the four September-October exhibitions, has emerged as the retired Tim Ream\u2019s left-footed replacement. He can also play left back, which is where Pochettino deployed him in the World Cup loss to T\u00fcrkiye \u2014 against whom Trusty scored \u2014 and the\u00a01-0 win over Canada on Oct. 6. If the 28-year-old doesn\u2019t participate in November, it won\u2019t be because of his play; Trusty missed Celtic\u2019s last two games following the death of his father, Walt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-baabd5ed><strong>Just missed out:<\/strong>\u00a0Max Arfsten, George Bello, Frankie Westfield**, Luca Bombino**<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span>Antonee Robinson prepares for a throw in during a friendly against Canada this month. (Photo by Robin Alam\/ISI Photos\/ISI Photos via Getty Images)<\/span> --><\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-baabd5ed>Freeman and Jedi are the undisputed starters at right and left back. Who&#8217;s behind them is much less clear. Neither Scally nor Weah were named in September, but both are playing regularly and well for their clubs. Scally\u2019s three goals are as many as he&#8217;s had in the last three seasons combined, while Marseille captain Weah scored his first of 2026-27 last weekend.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-baabd5ed>These matches count, so expect the versatile two-time World Cup vets to return next month \u2014 especially with Arfsten still finding his feet in his first campaign with Middlesbrough while Bombino and Westfield are destined for youth national team duty.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-baabd5ed><strong>Just missed out:<\/strong> Diego Kochen**<\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-baabd5ed>Who\u2019ll be in goal against Haiti? Freese, the World Cup No. 1, went just 45 minutes in the USA\u2019s last four games and has been outplayed in MLS this season by both the newcomer Schwake and Qatar 2022 starter Turner.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><span>Brian Schwake during USA&#8217;s international friendly against Canada at the beginning of October. (Photo by Jeremy Olson\/ISI Photos\/ISI Photos via Getty Images)<\/span> <!--&gt;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-baabd5ed>While some will argue for Kochen after the 20-year-old shut down Mexico earlier this month, the projected Olympic starter seems more likely to backstop the U-23s next month. My money\u2019s on the 25-year-old Schwake, who was superb against Canada in the Americans\u2019 most recent outing.<\/p>\n\n--><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>POPULAR SEARCHES BROWSE BY For all the excitement that a youth-heavy U.S. men\u2019s national team generated earlier this fall in the Stars and Stripes&#8217; first games since the 2026 FIFA World Cup, don\u2019t expect the roster that coach Mauricio Pochettino drops next week ahead of the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals vs. Haiti to include quite [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":7484,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7485","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-soccer"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7485","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7485"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7485\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7484"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7485"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7485"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7485"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}