Pulisic and Dest Return: Pochettino Reveals US Roster for Friendlies
The coach of the United States men’s national soccer team, Mauricio Pochettino, has announced the call-up of 23 players for the upcoming friendly matches against South Korea and Japan. The list includes the return of several key figures who did not participate in the Gold Cup, including Christian Pulisic from AC Milan, Sergiño Dest from PSV Eindhoven, and Tim Weah from Marseille. These encounters will serve as crucial preparation for the team in the face of future challenges. The U.S. team will face South Korea on September 6 in Harrison, New Jersey, and then Japan four days later in Columbus, Ohio.Notable Absences
Despite the inclusion of important players, there are also notable absences in the call-up. Weston McKennie, midfielder for Juventus, was not included in the list. Giovanni Reyna and Matt Turner, who recently changed clubs, are also not included.Pulisic returns after being absent from the Gold Cup due to fatigue. Weah returns after securing a loan to Marseille. Dest’s return is welcome, given his ability to generate goal opportunities from the right-back position, this being his first call-up since suffering an injury. The injuries mentioned affected the status of players like Patrick Agyemang and Malik Tillman. Likewise, players who recently returned to the field after prolonged absences, such as Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, and Antonee Robinson, were not called up. The absence of McKennie, who has seen his playing time reduced, is one of the biggest surprises. Yunus Musah was also left out of the call-up. Other notable exclusions are Reyna, Turner, and Johnny Cardoso, although all three are starting with new clubs this season. Turner was replaced as the starting goalkeeper in the Gold Cup by Matt Freese, who retains his place. These absences have opened the doors to several players without international experience. Among them are Roman Celentano, Jonathan Klinsmann, Noahkai Banks, and Tristan Blackmon. Other prominent players in the call-up are Alejandro Zendejas and Josh Sargent, who has had an outstanding performance.We are continuing to strengthen the team and focusing on the group of players who can help us achieve our goals in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Mauricio Pochettino
