Mauricio Pochettino is now in the final days of evaluating player options across Europe and MLS ahead of sending invites for the last U.S. national team training camp in 2025. Over a year into his role, Pochettino has laid down the foundations of his roster and has a solid understanding of who might make the list—barring any injuries or unforeseen issues.
But even a minor injury can change things.
As usual, the upcoming weekend’s club performances, injury reports, and other elements will play significant roles as he prepares for Thursday’s roster reveal.
Midfielder Tyler Adams scored his first Premier League goal in four seasons but took a tough knee hit in the 80th minute during Bournemouth’s 3-1 loss to Manchester City. (Pochettino might have gasped at this one!)
However, reports from England suggest that Adams is not facing a serious injury and is expected to join the U.S. camp in Philadelphia next Monday. Nonetheless, Bournemouth will evaluate his condition before their match against Aston Villa.
Previously, Adams missed the October camp to support his pregnant wife. The next U.S. gathering is set for late March, and with World Cup preparations ramping up, Pochettino is eager to see Adams compete against Paraguay on November 15 in Chester, Pennsylvania, and Uruguay on November 18 in Tampa, Florida.
Let’s take a deeper look at the player selection after the recent matches:
Injury Updates
It seems Christian Pulisic is still recovering; he has missed four AC Milan matches since injuring his right hamstring during a friendly against Australia on October 14 and is currently focusing on regaining his fitness.
Pulisic did not play against Roma on Sunday but may return for the match against Parma on Saturday. However, Milan prefers he skip international duty, and Pochettino is reportedly on the same page.
Fulham’s left-back Anthony Robinson continues to be sidelined by a knee issue, making his return to the U.S. squad seem unlikely for next week. He last played for the national team nearly a year ago.
Despite missing the last two games against Olympique de Marseille, winger Tim Weah intends to resume training this week. Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Malik Tillman is also in a race against time to recover from a hamstring injury sustained during last month’s U.S. camp.
Alex Zendejas, the promising winger from Mexico’s Club América, has missed three consecutive Liga MX matches, making his availability for the U.S. team doubtful.
Center-back Mark McKenzie was absent for the match against Toulouse in France due to what seems to be a minor foot injury.
Goal Scorers
In addition to Adams, Max Alfsten shined in the Columbus Crew’s 4-0 win over a 10-man FC Cincinnati, scoring the first goal and providing an assist; his performance has raised his profile in the U.S. depth chart with Robinson’s uncertain status.
Ricardo Pepi, a super-sub for PSV Eindhoven, netted his second goal in three games during a 5-2 victory against Fortuna Sittard. Although he hasn’t started since September 21, Pepi is pushing for a bigger role at the club and a spot on the U.S. national team for the first time in a year.
Early Departure
Tanner Tessman had a brief 15-minute appearance in the match against Olympique Lyon, not due to injury, but because his team had to adapt tactically after a teammate received a red card, an incident partly resulting from a weak pass he made.
Possible Comebacks
Apart from Pepi, other players like Serginho Dest from PSV have emerged as potential call-ups. Dest, who missed the October camp as he recovered from an ACL injury, has started every league match this season.
Pochettino received encouraging news regarding Atletico Madrid midfielder Johnny Cardoso, who returned to action last weekend for the first time since mid-September due to an ankle injury. However, Cardoso has struggled to find his form with the national team, making his inclusion uncertain.
Fading from the Picture
Three members of the 2022 World Cup squad skipped last month’s training camp and seem unlikely to return to the U.S. team as they continue to fight for playing time at their clubs.
Josh Sargent, the Norwich City striker, hasn’t scored in six straight matches, marking a 10-game drought for both club and country.
Despite what looked like a promising move to Atalanta, midfielder Yunus Musa has not played since October 4 and last started on September 17.
Forward Gio Reyna has similarly struggled, coming on late for Mönchengladbach without making a starting appearance since September 14.
End-of-Season Overview
As American players overseas are well into their seasons, MLS players are gearing up for the off-season. With MLS not resuming until late February, Pochettino hopes domestic candidates can prolong their current campaigns, which many are managing.
However, several key players were dismissed from the playoffs nearly two weeks ago. Regular U.S. players like Alex Freeman (Orlando City) and Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake) will be absent, as will goalkeeper Matt Turner, whose New England team did not qualify.
It’s only been a short while since the end of the MLS season, so there shouldn’t be substantial issues at the U.S. camp.
In an unusual MLS twist, Sebastian Berhalter and the Vancouver Whitecaps are off for three weeks due to their playoff success. (Berhalter wasn’t included in the October camp but remains on Pochettino’s radar.)
After beating FC Dallas, the Whitecaps will not play again until after the international break begins on November 22nd to 23rd.
This complexity is part of the puzzle that Pochettino is piecing together as he prepares for each training camp, which is growing increasingly important with the World Cup looming.
Fan Take: This news matters because the health and performance of key players like Adams and Pulisic can significantly shape the U.S. team’s chances in the upcoming World Cup. With course corrections in player selection, fans can hope for a more competitive squad that could elevate American soccer on the global stage.
