Pulisic, McKennie and Balogun return as Pochettino names 26-man US squad for Nations League quarter-final against Haiti
Mauricio Pochettino has selected a 26-man United States roster for the Concacaf Nations League quarter-final matches against Haiti, including recalls for Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Folarin Balogun.
After 13 players earned their first caps in the previous window, only two selections in this squad could be in line for international debuts this month.
The two-leg series marks the first competitive action for the US since they exited the World Cup against Belgium in the last 16, and Pochettino's side are heavily favoured, arriving in better form and health than chief rivals Mexico and Canada.
Haiti will host their home leg in Miami on 14 November, because of years-long security issues stemming from widespread gang violence in Port-au-Prince. The return leg will be played in Cincinnati on 17 November.
The goalkeepers selected are Matt Freese of New York City FC, Diego Kochen of Lyngby Boldklub and Brian Schwake of Nashville SC. Kochen was given the nod against Mexico in the last window, and many observers consider Schwake the best goalkeeper in Major League Soccer.
The US still lacks a lock-down keeper, leaving the position wide open, the report said. New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner is not on this roster, despite being in the midst of a strong run of form in MLS.
The defenders are Reed Baker-Whiting, George Campbell, Sergino Dest, Alex Freeman, Neil Pierre, Bryan Reynolds, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson and Auston Trusty. Baker-Whiting is in line for a debut after a steady season at left back for Nashville.
Reynolds is on his first US squad since the 2023 Gold Cup, having joined Rennes this summer, while Chris Richards and Auston Trusty appear to be the initial first-choice partnership for the cycle.
In midfield, captain Tyler Adams is joined by Mathis Albert, Sebastian Berhalter, Santiago Castaneda, Weston McKennie, Adri Mehmeti, Gio Reyna and Malik Tillman. The 21-year-old Castaneda, a ball-winner who has taken to the Bundesliga with newly promoted Paderborn, is the main alternative to Adams.
McKennie returns after missing the last window with fatigue. Berhalter has become ever-present for Pochettino, and Reyna is enjoying first-choice status in his first season with Strasbourg.
The forwards are Balogun of Monaco, Justin Ellis of Orlando City, Julian Hall of Red Bull New York, Pulisic of AC Milan and Cavan Sullivan of Philadelphia Union. On Sunday Balogun snapped a four-month goalscoring drought that dated back to his World Cup last-32 strike against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Pulisic was excluded from the September and October games while recovering from the leg injury he sustained at the World Cup. He has since largely returned to form for Milan and was rewarded with a new contract, and a standout performance across both matches would do much to silence questions about his form and commitment, the report said.
