USMNT drops Pulisic and Balogun as teen prospects dominate new roster
Coach Mauricio Pochettino named a 28-man squad for upcoming friendlies that excludes Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun, while featuring a wave of teenage talent.
Mauricio Pochettino announced a 28-player USMNT roster for a series of friendlies, marking a stark shift from the World Cup-ending squad that fell to Belgium. The list includes 12 newcomers, 11 of whom are 21 or younger, and leaves out high-profile players Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun, both lacking recent club minutes. Pulisic’s limited action at AC Milan and Balogun’s stalled move to Everton are cited as key factors.
Teen phenom Cavan Sullivan, who has contributed goals and assists for the Philadelphia Union, joins the camp alongside other promising youths like Adri Mehmeti, Mathis Albert, and goalkeeper Brian Schwake. Former World Cup participants such as Chris Richards, Sergiño Dest and Gio Reyna remain, but the focus will be on evaluating the fresh talent ahead of the 2030 World Cup cycle.
Why it matters
The roster overhaul signals a strategic pivot toward rebuilding the USMNT with younger players for future competitions.
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