At just 19, Zavier Gozo is having a career year and could be the first spark of real change for Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT.
Zavier Gozo has entered the chat. That is what United States men’s national team fans want to see as Mauricio Pochettino kicks off his second cycle, and his first full one, after what was a memorable but ultimately same-old, same-old World Cup for the USMNT.
Gozo matured tremendously at Real Salt Lake, so much so that the 19-year-old attracted European interest and completed a move to English Premier League side Crystal Palace. While Europe always seemed to be in the cards for Gozo, the timing of the move is much sooner than either MLS or RSL anticipated.
Gozo has been through the trenches, having played for the U.S. youth national teams since the U-15 level, and he now appears set for his full national team debut during the September international window.
Racking up six goals and five assists in 16 MLS games for Real Salt Lake in the 2026 season, Gozo’s breakout year is evidence of a new crop of American players coming through the ranks that could mark the next generation of the USMNT.
What Makes Gozo So Special?
On paper, Gozo is a versatile winger who can also play as a full back, but he has done the most damage on the right wing, and seems to be most comfortable there. Gozo has an electric, fearless energy that makes him incredibly fun to watch. Think of him as a human turbo button on the right flank. He uses blinding speed and slick footwork to blow past defenders and drag his team forward.
What makes Gozo special is his adaptability. He can destroy teams as an attacking winger or slide back into a wing-back role without losing any of his offensive bite. He has a booming right foot and a natural knack for slipping into the box unnoticed, which has helped him rack up goal contributions at a blistering pace.
Gozo is still growing into his frame and learning to balance his hunt for goals with setting up his teammates, but his raw, explosive toolkit gives him the ceiling of a future big-time player for the national team.
RSL head coach Pablo Mastroeni told KSL Sport on June 5, “Very rarely do you have a guy that is as fast as he is that can maintain the speed and endurance over 90 minutes. From that perspective, he is world-class. I’m saying Premier League. I’m saying any league in the world.”
Mastroeni’s vision proved to be true, as Gozo will look to make his EPL debut in the upcoming 2026-27 season.
Gozo is so far one of many top young players looming in U.S. soccer circles who have given fans reasons to believe they could see actual improvement from the national team. Along with the young talent at RSL, there is also Cavan Sullivan, perhaps the highest-rated American talent since Christian Pulisic, Julian Hall, Neil Pierre, and players already in Europe, such as Borussia Dortmund’s Mathis Albert.
Where Does Gozo Fit Into the USMNT Plans?
With four games lined up to help Pochettino kick off his second cycle in late September and early October, one would figure that Gozo is very likely to receive his first national team call-up.
Many pundits pushed for his inclusion in the 2026 World Cup, but realistically, it was not the right moment for Pochettino to experiment with an up-and-coming player. Now, the new 2030 cycle removes those excuses and puts Gozo in the spotlight.
On a team in desperate need of new faces to replace proven talent that now has little left to offer, Gozo is a much-needed breath of fresh air for Pochettino.
At first, it will be a gradual process to bring Gozo into the full team, but given the huge impact he has made with the youth national teams and in Major League Soccer, it would seem prudent for Gozo to begin testing players like Tim Weah, Gio Reyna, and Alejandro Zendejas.
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Gozo, who could be getting valuable minutes in the Premier League by the time the September international break rolls around, is a new face many in U.S. soccer circles are desperate to see on a national team that needs to move on from some players while challenging others to step up.
Easing Gozo in alongside other players like Johnny Cardoso and Tanner Tessmann, while Gianluca Busio and the younger crop continue to develop, will be essential as the U.S. looks to start fresh with a core that is already beginning to take shape.
There are a lot of expectations surrounding Gozo, just as there are for a sea of talented young American players, but he has already shown in MLS that there is a uniqueness to his game and a creativity that the U.S. will need in a new cycle.
Gozo isn’t waiting around as European football comes calling. The 19-year-old is ready to take the next step, and with those steps begins another cycle of hope for the USMNT.
