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- Why Pochettino is pressing the reset
- Meet the USMNT’s 12 newcomers
- 1. Mathis Albert, 17 — Borussia Dortmund
- 2. Cole Campbell, 20 — SV Elversberg
- 3. Justin Ellis, 19 — Orlando City
- 4. Zavier Gozo, 19 — Crystal Palace (from Real Salt Lake)
- 5. Julian Hall, 18 — New York Red Bulls
- 6. Adri Mehmeti, 17 — New York Red Bulls
- 7. Peyton Miller, 18 — New England Revolution
- 8. Neil Pierre, 18 — Philadelphia Union
- 9. Brooklyn Raines, 21 — New England Revolution
- 10. Brian Schwake, 25 — Nashville SC
- 11. Frankie Westfield, 20 — Philadelphia Union
- 12. Cavan Sullivan, 16 — Philadelphia Union
Mauricio Pochettino has begun a sweeping rebuild of the U.S. men’s national team, naming a September–October camp that leans heavily on youth. The Argentine coach has invited a dozen players who have never been capped at senior level, eight of them teenagers, as he reshapes the roster ahead of four fall friendlies and a longer-term plan toward 2030.
Why Pochettino is pressing the reset
The decision follows a summer that mixed promise with a sobering finish: the U.S. enjoyed a strong run at the World Cup on home soil but fell 4–1 to Belgium in the round of 16. Pochettino has signaled he wants a fresh project and is testing new options early.
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Less than half of the squad Pochettino named played for him in the World Cup — only 13 returnees — and the camp will lean on first-time call-ups to inject energy and competition. The group will prepare for friendlies against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada, with an eye to longer-term development.
“It’s exciting to have … the new players in this roster to try to be sure that they can express their potential, their real potential,” Pochettino said after releasing the list.
Meet the USMNT’s 12 newcomers
1. Mathis Albert, 17 — Borussia Dortmund
Albert is a teenage midfielder already turning heads in Germany. This spring he became the youngest American to appear in the Bundesliga, a milestone that moved Gio Reyna to second and Christian Pulisic to third on that list. He has limited minutes so far in Dortmund’s new season but has gained rare Champions League exposure for his age.
2. Cole Campbell, 20 — SV Elversberg
Campbell is a left-sided winger who has emerged as a regular starter in Germany with SV Elversberg. The 20-year-old opened his season with a goal against Bayer Leverkusen, showing an ability to impact games at Bundesliga level.
3. Justin Ellis, 19 — Orlando City
Ellis stepped up from Orlando City’s reserve side to join the senior attack and has locked down a starting role. The forward has contributed across competitions, tallying three goals and 11 assists as he cements himself in MLS.
4. Zavier Gozo, 19 — Crystal Palace (from Real Salt Lake)
Gozo’s season began in MLS, where he earned six goals, five assists and an MLS All-Star selection while at Real Salt Lake. His form prompted a big move to Crystal Palace — reported at roughly $15 million — where he will train in the English Premier League alongside U.S. teammates.
5. Julian Hall, 18 — New York Red Bulls
Hall has become the Red Bulls’ main scoring threat. The striker has 13 goals across competitions this season and made MLS history in May by becoming the youngest player to record a hat-trick, doing so against Columbus Crew.
6. Adri Mehmeti, 17 — New York Red Bulls
Mehmeti is a young creative midfielder trusted to run the Red Bulls’ buildup. The 17-year-old has contributed one goal and five assists so far this season and is viewed as a key piece in the club’s midfield pipeline.
7. Peyton Miller, 18 — New England Revolution
Miller is a versatile wide player capable of covering both flanks, often compared stylistically to Sergiño Dest for his adaptability. The 18-year-old has found strong form for New England, recording seven goals and four assists this season.
8. Neil Pierre, 18 — Philadelphia Union
The U.S. will be looking to Pierre to help replenish a backline that lost experience at the World Cup. The 6’5″ center back returned from a loan in Denmark to rejoin the Union and has been central to the club’s run of form; the team went unbeaten in 11 league matches after his return.
Pierre is also a set-piece threat, having scored four goals this season, and his aerial presence is already an asset at MLS level.
9. Brooklyn Raines, 21 — New England Revolution
A creative central midfielder, Raines starred at the 2025 U-20 World Cup and was shortlisted as a finalist for the 2025 U.S. Soccer Young Male Player of the Year. He brings vision and movement into New England’s midfield rotations.
10. Brian Schwake, 25 — Nashville SC
Schwake has been a cornerstone of Nashville’s outstanding campaign. The club sits atop the league with 57 points and Schwake has kept 12 clean sheets. He was named a 2026 MLS All-Star and, by FBref measurements, leads MLS goalkeepers in save percentage (76.1%).
The 25-year-old is expected to press for the U.S. starting goalkeeper spot, particularly given questions around other options after the World Cup.
11. Frankie Westfield, 20 — Philadelphia Union
Westfield is a right back who pairs well with Pierre in the Union defense. Known for his forward bursts and crossing, the 20-year-old has provided key assists recently and brings attacking intent to the fullback role.
12. Cavan Sullivan, 16 — Philadelphia Union
Sullivan is the youngest player in the call-up and one of MLS’s most talked-about prospects. If he plays, he would be the U.S.’s youngest debutant since Freddy Adu in 2006. Since earning a regular role this summer, Sullivan has produced an eye-catching run of form: seven goals and nine assists since mid-August, including 10 goal contributions in the club’s last five matches.
