Jeff Carlisle, NFL Reporter Nov 10, 2024, 10:00am ET
CloseJeff Carlisle covers Major League Soccer (MLS) and the US National Team for ESPN FC.
US Men’s National Team head coach Mauricio Pochettino has announced a 25-man roster to compete in this week’s CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals against Jamaica.
These include Milan’s Christian Pulisic and Juventus duo Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah.
The quarter-final will be contested over two legs, with the first leg taking place in Kingston, Jamaica on November 14, and the return leg in St. Louis four days later. In 10 meetings in Jamaica, the USA has a 3-1-6 record.
Editor’s Picks
1 related
The players will attend camp on Sunday and Monday, and the team will depart on Wednesday afternoon for Jamaica.
Pochettino will have more key players available than in last month’s international window, a first for the Argentine. Weah was called up for the first time since receiving a red card against Panama in the Copa America, and his subsequent ban will last until the first leg in Kingston.
Other returnees include Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards, Fulham defender Anthony Robinson and Real Betis midfielder Johnny Cardoso. Pochettino will also get his first look at Atletico Barcelona goalkeeper Diego Cochin and FC Guadalajara striker Cade Coyle.
However, a host of key players are missing out for the US due to fitness concerns. Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams has recently returned to action after a long injury layoff due to back surgery. Monaco striker Folarin Balogun continues his recovery from a separated shoulder, while Norwich City striker Josh Sargent recently underwent hip surgery that is set to keep him out for up to eight weeks. Coventry City player Haji Wright also suffered an ankle injury late in Sunday’s match against Sunderland.
Injuries to Balogun, Sargent and Wright mean a lot of eyes will be on the striker group that, in addition to Coyle, includes PSV Eindhoven’s Ricardo Pepe and Monterrey FC’s Brandon Vazquez.
The roster looks light on outside defenders, with only Robinson and Joe Scully having extensive experience in those roles. This suggests that Pochettino may resort to playing with a back three as well as a wing-back, although Richards and Charlotte defender Tim Ream have played in the past as an outside back in a four-back system.
The USMNT is aiming to win a fourth consecutive CNL title, having previously won every edition of the tournament since the first final was played in 2021.
November USMNT training camp roster:
Goalkeepers: Diego Cochin (Barcelona Athletic), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Zach Steffen (Colorado Rapids), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace).
Defenders: Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Anthony Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Auston Trusty (Celtic).
Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Gianluca Bosio (Venezia), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough), Younes Musa (Milan), Tanner Theisman (Lyon), Malik Tieleman. Eindhoven Eindhoven)
Attack: Cade Coyle (Guadalajara), Ricardo Pepe (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (Milan), Brandon Vazquez (Monterrey), Tim Weah (Juventus), Alex Zendejas (Club America).
