If it were springtime and the World Cup was fast approaching, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino would understandably be worrying about the fitness of his squad. However, as it’s currently fall with over six months until the tournament begins in North America, his stress about injuries and inconsistent performances, while concerning, remains somewhat manageable—after all, even Pochettino can find solace with a nice Bordeaux.
Before he can finalize his World Cup roster, another important FIFA window is on the horizon, yet opportunities to enhance team cohesion and develop player relationships are sparse.
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Pochettino faces additional hurdles as he prepares his roster for the upcoming training camp and friendlies, which are expected to be announced soon.
Unlike powerhouse nations like France, Brazil, or Argentina, the U.S. lacks depth in its player pool. Since taking charge over a year ago, Pochettino has been juggling competition for each position. Nonetheless, to succeed at the World Cup, he needs not just availability, but also players in peak form.
Over the weekend, many key U.S. players were sidelined due to injuries or spent the match on the bench. Two players, both vital to their clubs and veterans from the 2022 World Cup, withdrew from consideration due to injury concerns.
Cameron Carter-Vickers’ status with the USMNT is in question after sustaining an Achilles tendon injury during Thursday’s UEFA Europa League game.
(Ian McNicol, via Getty Images)
Celtic’s Cameron Carter-Vickers will be sidelined for several months following Achilles tendon surgery. He had scored during a Europa League match on Thursday, but was visibly struggling afterward.
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Although Carter-Vickers is not a regular starter for the national team—having been benched during a recent friendly—his club experience and successful tenure would have made him a likely candidate for the World Cup squad. Unfortunately, he will miss not just the November camp but also the chance to participate in the March camp unless he makes a remarkable recovery.
His absence could allow Nashville’s Walker Zimmerman, a veteran center back who missed the last two camps, to step back onto the squad. Vancouver’s Tristan Blackmon is also attracting attention after making his debut in September, though he still deals with a knee injury.
Pochettino is monitoring Noakai Banks, a promising teenager from FC Augsburg, who was called up last month but did not get any playtime. Banks didn’t help his case with a lackluster performance in a recent match against RB Leipzig.
On the left side, Fulham’s Anthony Robinson is typically a starter for the U.S., but he is currently nursing a knee injury. Known as ‘Jedi,’ he missed the last match against Newcastle, leaving him little time to regain fitness ahead of the tournament. Robinson hasn’t appeared for the national team in nearly a year. He participated in camp in October but faced another setback.
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With Robinson absent, Max Alfsten and Tim Weah filled in at left wing-back against Ecuador and Australia.
Speaking of Weah, he recently sustained a thigh injury and was substituted during a match against Olympique Marseille. No updates on his recovery have been disclosed yet. Weah had been expected to feature next month against Paraguay and Uruguay.
The injury list also includes AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic, Bayer Leverkusen’s Malik Tillman, and Club America’s Alex Zendejas.
Pulisic might return to action soon at Milan, but the Serie A club reportedly wants him to sit out the November camp. This poses a dilemma for American coaches who want all top players available while also considering their well-being and club relationships. If Pulisic skips next month’s matches, he has expressed intent not to don the national team’s jersey until a friendly in March.
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Tillman is still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained during the last U.S. camp, while Zendejas, who shone at Club America this season, is also struggling with injuries that have hindered his return to the national squad. He played briefly for his club but faces ongoing challenges.
Midfielder Johnny Cardoso is another uncertain option, having yet to return to Atlético Madrid following an ankle injury suffered in August. While he hasn’t excelled with the national team, he remains an intriguing choice for Pochettino in the midfield.
On the brighter side, Pochettino received encouraging news about right-back Sergiño Dest, who has successfully participated in consecutive matches for PSV Eindhoven after recovering from an ACL injury.
Dest’s teammate, striker Ricardo Pepi, is also making a case to return to the U.S. team after an impactful performance in a recent Champions League match, scoring and assisting. His last international appearance was nearly a year ago.
In Serie A, Yunus Moussa’s star is fading at Atalanta, with his last match played on October 4, and he hasn’t started since mid-September. It’s unlikely Pochettino will consider him for the next camp, similar to Gio Reyna, who has seen limited playing time lately.
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In the English Championship, American players feature prominently on top clubs vying for promotion. Hadji Wright’s Coventry City remains unbeaten with a solid win, while Aidan Morris and Middlesbrough showed resilience in a recent match.
In the Premier League, Brendan Aaronson made his mark with an early goal in Leeds’ victory over West Ham, earning much recognition. Tyler Adams also received accolades for his assist in Bournemouth’s win, helping them climb the league standings.
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Though Adams missed the recent U.S. camp to support his pregnant wife, he intends to rejoin the team soon.
“Tyler is a competitor,” said Bournemouth coach Andoni Iraola. “He’s a great leader and thrives under challenges. It’s clear he’s a captain and holds leadership roles wherever he plays.”
As soccer fans, this news reflects the varying fortunes of key players just ahead of a major tournament. The health and form of U.S. players could significantly shape their World Cup success and the overall development of American soccer on the global stage.
