When the U.S. men’s national team reconvenes on Sept. 21 to prepare for four exhibition games late this month and early next, it will probably look different from the 26-player squad that reached the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Forward Christian Pulisic hasn’t played for AC Milan since suffering two microfractures in his right leg during the tournament co-hosts’ humiliating 4-1 knockout loss to Belgium. World Cup captain Tim Ream turns 39 next month and has likely played his last match for his country. On the first steps toward the centennial 2030 competition co-hosted mostly by Morocco, Portugal and Spain, it’s possible that freshly rehired coach Mauricio Pochettino will leave several other established Americans home when he drops his next roster on or around Sept. 17. 

If that’s the case, some of those regulars could be replaced by familiar names who missed the World Cup but are playing regularly and well in early 2026–27, or by youngsters who are either just beginning their international careers and/or vying for a spot on the U.S. under-23 squad that will compete at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

The USA opens its four-match slate of friendlies against Peru in Orlando on Sept. 26, the start of a rare stretch of unofficial games and, crucially, training sessions before the Concacaf Nations League returns in November and next March — and before the 2027 Gold Cup kicks off on FOX’s air next summer. Poch’s side also faces Chile (Sept. 29) before closing out the camp with games against regional rivals Mexico (Oct. 3) and Canada (Oct. 6).

(Photo by Jane Gershovich/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

With the Steve Cherundolo-led U-23s idle until FIFA’s November window, Pochettino has the chance to take a first-hand look at the next generation. The Argentine’s best skill as a coach is identifying emerging talents like Alex Freeman, the now-22-year-old defender who went from uncapped prospect in mid-2025 to World Cup starter a year later. Freeman scored in the group stage win over Australia and logged the second-most minutes of any American in the tournament, behind only Weston McKennie.

“It’s going to be important to provide the young kids that we really believe have the potential to arrive in 2030 in four years to start to work and start to know [what] we anticipate from them,” Pochettino advised me and different reporters on the day his return was introduced. “They should really feel in the event that they carry out, they will have the likelihood to affix us.”

Listed below are a number of the candidates:

When Gozo scored six targets in 16 MLS appearances for Actual Salt Lake this spring, Pochettino critically thought of taking the uncapped teenager to the World Cup. Palace noticed sufficient to drop a $15 million switch charge on the Utah native, who made his Premier League debut for the Eagles in final week’s loss to Manchester Metropolis. That makes Gozo an apparent candidate for the upcoming video games — except Poch opts to go away the teenager again in London for this camp so he can proceed acclimating to his new environment.

Sullivan has been sensational for Philly since MLS returned from its World Cup break, with 4 objective contributions within the Union’s final 4 video games. The Man Metropolis prospect has additionally scored in two straight matches, together with a magnificence in final week’ 3-1 win over the New York Purple Bulls. Have been Sullivan to play in any of the Individuals’ video games this fall, he’d turn into the youngest participant to symbolize the U.S. males since 16-year-old Freddy Adu in 2006.

For a program in want of younger heart backs, the timing of Pierre’s latest emergence is ideal. Named the highest defender in MLS’s developmental “Subsequent Professional” league final season, the towering (he’s 6-foot-7) Pierre made his first crew debut for Philadelphia final season, then spent the primary half of 2026 on mortgage to Copenhagen-based Lyngby, which he helped get promoted to the Danish prime flight this spring. Pierre has began seven of the Union’s 9 video games since returning in July and scored an astounding 4 targets, together with final weekend in opposition to the Purple Bulls.

When the seven-time European champions shipped Musah to Italian rivals Atalanta on mortgage final season, it appeared his profession with the Rossoneri was over — particularly after beginning simply 5 Serie A video games in 2025-26 and lacking out on a World Cup journey. However Musah, who began all 4 video games for the U.S. at Qatar 2022, returned to the San Siro and gained over new supervisor Rúben Amorim, who has stored the American within the coronary heart of his midfield for each minute of Milan’s first two matches this marketing campaign. 

Not like Musah, Morris got here agonizingly shut to creating the World Cup roster following a powerful 2025-26 marketing campaign throughout which ‘Boro narrowly missed out on promotion to the Prem. He’s been even higher to begin the brand new season, scoring a spectacular objective in Wednesday’s 1-1 tie away to Burnley.

With Ream gone and Miles Robinson turning 30 early subsequent yr, Pochettino wants new heart backs. Poch gave Campbell his first cap in early 2025, when he was nonetheless enjoying for MLS membership CF Montreal. Now 25, the Atlanta United academy product is captaining West Brom in his second season with the English Championship membership. After 4 matches, the Baggies are tied for the ultimate spot within the second tier’s Premier League promotion playoffs.

The previous Atlanta United left again will compete within the UEFA Champions League this season after he (and fellow American Samuel Adeniran, who’s now injured) knocked Scottish behemoth Celtic out of the competitors final month. He might be an choice if both of Poch’s two World Cup left backs — Antonee “Jedi” Robinson and understudy Max Arfsten, who remains to be settling in with Middlesbrough — aren’t summoned.

As soon as a left again himself, the Connecticut-born left-footer has been deployed as an attacker below Revs coach (and 2024 U.S. Olympic boss) Marko Mitrović. Miller, who turns 19 in November, has responded with 4 targets and 4 assists in 20 appearances, 14 of them begins.

Although Campbell burst onto the scene two years in the past by making Champions League and Bundesliga appearances for German titans Borussia Dortmund, the 5-foot-7 Texan had a disappointing 2025-26 on mortgage to Hoffenheim, enjoying in simply 5 league video games. He joined newly promoted Elversberg in July and obtained off to a quick begin in final week’s season-opening upset of Malik Tillman’s Bayer Leverkusen, beginning and scoring within the 3-2 win. Campbell has two extra probabilities to impress earlier than Pochettino names his squad: on Sunday at Borussia Mönchengladbach and residential to Bayern Munich on Sept. 13.

Though he has only one objective in 18 MLS common season video games for the Lions in 2026, Ellis is a skillful, clever and versatile participant. He has additionally developed a fast partnership with onetime U.S. striker Daryl Dike and France/Atlético Madrid legend Antoine Griezmann, contributing seven assists.

Pochettino began Busio in his first two video games and U.S. coach however hasn’t recalled him since late 2024. However Busio is now again in Serie A for the third time with the Venice-based Winged Lions, and is each captaining the membership this season. With a brand new cycle simply starting, has the stylish Busio earned one other look?

The most effective keeper on the perfect crew in MLS this season, Schwake’s 77.3 save proportion leads the league forward of World Cup winner Hugo Lloris and U.S. veteran Matt Turner. Schwake conceded simply 17 targets in Nashville’s 22 matches, protecting 10 clear sheets and logging each minute alongside the way in which. Earlier than becoming a member of Nashville final yr, the Illinois native performed for decrease league golf equipment in Spain and Scotland.