Mauricio Pochettino has called up 25 players for the USMNT’s CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal showdown against Haiti. The roster marks the return of Christian Pulisic, while also featuring several of the new faces who have emerged at the start of the 2030 cycle. Perhaps the biggest surprise is the inclusion of Santiago Castañeda of German side SC Paderborn.
Mauricio Pochettino continues to push forward with his youth movement, turning the page on a new chapter for the United States men’s national team. Several of the fresh faces we saw during the September and October camp are back, most notably Cavan Sullivan and Julian Hall.
The returns of Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, and Weston McKennie should have USMNT fans rubbing their hands together at the prospect of seeing the team’s most established stars play alongside its exciting new generation.
The team enters the CONCACAF Nations League on a high, having won four straight games, including a 3-0 thrashing of arch rivals Mexico. However, this will be the first competitive test for the new-look U.S. side, and the team is obligated to at least win one of the Nations League competitions during the new cycle.
We break down some of the key takeaways from the new roster and what could lie ahead for the USMNT during an all-important November camp.
Pochettino Stays Young and Sends a Message
Pochettino continues to mold the USMNT in his image, and the latest roster makes that clear. The Argentine is sticking with his young core and the players he believes in. Along with Hall and Sullivan, Justin Ellis, Diego Kochen, and Neil Pierre headline the up-and-comers, while Alex Freeman, Sebastian Berhalter, and Malik Tillman round out what could be considered the “Pochettino boys.”
The message? New blood is welcome, and if you pass the test, Pochettino is willing to stick with you.
That has been the manager’s modus operandi with several players he has helped develop into solid USMNT contributors. After the first four games of this new cycle, Pochettino remains committed to giving young players opportunities and molding them into the team he wants to build.
And One Day, He Came Home: Christian Pulisic
Fresh off a goal in the Milan derby and a new contract, Christian Pulisic is back. The USMNT is considerably more dangerous with the AC Milan winger at his best, and this will be an important camp for Pulisic to show that he remains as committed as ever to the national team.
The prospect of seeing Pulisic, Sullivan, and Gio Reyna on the same field should be mouthwatering for U.S. fans, particularly considering how Reyna has rediscovered his form and found his footing for both club and country.
Still, despite all the youth and the excitement surrounding what this USMNT team could become if everyone reaches their potential, this is still the Pulisic show. As he goes, so goes the USMNT.
Can Pochettino Get the Best Out of Weston McKennie?
Weston McKennie continues to be a reliable contributor for Juventus, where he has now made more than 170 appearances and is in his seventh season. While Juventus have been inconsistent, McKennie has remained a steady presence in what has been a relatively subdued side.
For the USMNT, however, it feels like ages since we last saw McKennie truly take control of a game. His 2026 World Cup performances were good, but not great. Pochettino will need the now-experienced international to lead by example and establish himself as one of the team’s true leaders alongside Pulisic, Tyler Adams, and Antonee Robinson as this 2030 cycle takes shape.
Easier said than done. McKennie will need to shed some of his jokester image and let his performances and leadership do the talking. If he can rediscover the form that made him such an important player for the USMNT, the American midfield could become very dangerous.
Who Is Santiago Castañeda?
View this post on Instagram
Santiago Castañeda is a midfielder who plays in a holding role for German side SC Paderborn. This season, he has featured in all eight of the club’s games and scored against Hoffenheim. At 21, the former Tampa Bay Rowdies player has been with Paderborn since 2024, making 78 appearances and recording three goals and two assists.
Castañeda brings an imposing physical presence and impressive press resistance to the midfield. As a defensive anchor, he excels at disrupting opposition attacks through clean interceptions and ball recoveries. Once possession is secured, he can dictate the tempo, transitioning his team from defense to attack with precise, line-breaking passes.
Castañeda has already represented the United States at the U-21 and U-23 levels and made 33 appearances for MSV Duisburg. He is an intriguing addition, particularly given his age and experience in German football. His inclusion is certainly one of the more unexpected decisions on Pochettino’s roster.
Not-So-Glaring Omissions
As always, some fans will focus on the players who didn’t make the cut. However, there are logical explanations for most of the omissions.
Brenden Aaronson, Tim Weah, Matt Turner, and Mark McKenzie are among the established names left out. Regardless of their club form or experience, it’s clear that Pochettino wants to continue introducing new blood. The excitement surrounding these younger faces offers something different from what we’ve seen from some of the team’s more familiar names. With some carrying over 50 caps for the USMNT, what is there to learn at this point?
Ricardo Pepi, who continues to find the back of the net for PSV, is returning from injury. Pochettino evidently felt it was best for the striker to remain at home for now, but Pepi remains an important asset who should return to the USMNT fold sooner rather than later.
Tanner Tessmann and Aidan Morris also find themselves on the outside looking in. At this point, Pochettino appears to favor players who fit his tactical and stylistic preferences more closely, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to argue with the manager’s approach.
Then there is Johnny Cardoso, who is injured yet again. The Atletico Madrid midfielder has routinely been unavailable, but even when healthy the performances with the USMNT haven’t been there. Pochettino at this point isn’t losing sleep over his absence one would think.
Yunus Musah’s omission, however, is an interesting one. Despite his return to form at AC Milan and a decent showing at the most recent USMNT camp, Musah continues to develop at both club and international level. Has Pochettino simply decided that he has already seen the best of Musah? With new faces entering the picture, the midfielder could find himself on the outside looking in when it comes to future roster decisions.
All in all, this is a strong USMNT roster for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals against Haiti. Both legs will be played on U.S. soil, giving the Americans an advantage when it comes to travel and familiarity with the playing conditions.
This is still a team in progress, but the integration of young talent alongside the established stars should give U.S. fans plenty of reasons to be excited.
Ultimately, though, the USMNT needs results. Getting closer to another Nations League final must be the team’s priority as the checklist for the 2030 cycle officially begins.
