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Jeff Carlisle
Since Mauricio Pochettino became the head coach of the U.S. men’s national team, he has been racing against the clock. Stepping in with under two years until the U.S. co-hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, he has had limited competitive games to evaluate his team, especially with World Cup qualifying games absent. Friendly matches only provide limited insights.
As Pochettino unveiled his roster for the November international window on Thursday, the shortage of quality time with his group became increasingly evident. Since Pochettino’s appointment, the USMNT has suffered from a slew of injuries, which has affected the current selection as well. Key players, including Christian Pulisic from AC Milan, Chris Richards of Crystal Palace, Antonee Robinson from Fulham, and Timothy Weah of Marseille, are sidelined with various injuries.
The same goes for players hoping to secure a spot on the team, such as Tristan Blackmon from Vancouver Whitecaps, Cameron Carter-Vickers of Celtic, and Alejandro Zendejas from Club América.
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Weston McKennie from Juventus has been excluded from the squad, allowing him to adjust to new manager Luciano Spalletti. With merely one more international window in March ahead of the pre-World Cup camp in May, Pochettino has limited time to finalize his ideal lineup and make necessary refinements. Pochettino, however, claims he is unfazed.
He asserts that the team’s core principles are in place, and although it has taken time, the players are gradually adapting to his expectations. The foundation is strong enough that newcomers are quickly indoctrinated into the team culture by their more experienced peers. Away from the pitch, he recognizes that the time constraints are out of his control.
“That is the time that we have, and we are not going to complain,” Pochettino stated.
“We cannot make excuses for ourselves if we don’t perform. We have adequate time. We must be smart and give our best to execute. The onus is on us.”
“I am not worried. I think this is the timeframe we were aware of when we signed, and it’s true that we have faced numerous issues, including injuries and players not playing regularly. That makes things difficult, but we can manage it, and I believe we will create a strong roster and a competitive team.”
The good news is that some members of Pochettino’s squad are regaining their health.
Ricardo Pepi, a striker from PSV Eindhoven, returns to the squad for the first time in nearly a year, coming off a recent stoppage-time equalizer against Olympiacos during the UEFA Champions League. The U.S. now features three in-form strikers competing for the starting role: Folarin Balogun from AS Monaco and Haji Wright from Coventry City, making this a welcome situation for the U.S.
Sergiño Dest is also back in contention following injury and has joined Alex Freeman from Orlando City and Joe Scally from Borussia Mönchengladbach, ramping up the competition for spots.
Gio Reyna, another player in need of time, is also back with the squad for the first time since March. His transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Gladbach was intended to offer a fresh start; however, an ongoing struggle with injuries has limited his impact at his new club, where he has played only 132 minutes.
He made a brief return during Gladbach’s recent 4-0 victory over St. Pauli, contributing a 12-minute appearance and assisting in the buildup to Oscar Fraulo‘s goal in the 80th minute. Reyna displayed promising touches, giving a glimpse of his capabilities on the pitch.
Pochettino’s comments about Reyna were revealing, as he initially remarked, “We already know Gio,” but then quickly followed up by referencing “the potential of Gio and the talent.” This reflects the ongoing concern: Pochettino is well aware that Reyna has struggled to consistently demonstrate his skills on the field. However, due to the current state of the roster, Pochettino is eager to provide Reyna an opportunity, not only to observe his performance but also to understand his mindset.
“[Reyna] has enormous talent, and it’s true he hasn’t played much, but I think November presents a great opportunity,” Pochettino said. “After March, we won’t have many chances to gather, and since this is a limited window to evaluate him, it’s essential we spend time together and understand each other better.”
The mental aspect is crucial. Nevertheless, Reyna must exhibit his abilities in matches. With McKennie, Pulisic, and Zendejas all missing, and Diego Luna as the only other significant creative player available, Reyna has a prime opportunity to earn playing time and make a positive impression on Pochettino.
Time is of the essence, and it is imperative that Pochettino, the USMNT, and Reyna seize the opportunities presented to them.