Mauricio Pochettino doubles down on USMNT youth movement as Nations League stakes rise

Mauricio Pochettino expanded his U.S. player pool earlier this fall by inviting about a dozen young players for a series of friendlies. Most performed so well, they earned callbacks Wednesday — even with most veterans available for the first official matches since the World Cup and a youth-specific Olympic camp taking place at the same time. Cavan Sullivan, Julian Hall, Justin Ellis, Mathis Albert, Adri Mehmeti, Neil Pierre and Diego Kochen all parlayed their efforts in September-October into November invitations for the Nations League quarterfinals . Average age: 18.1. “We are playing now an official game [and] the priority always is for the first team,” Pochettino said Wednesday. “And because we all believe that if the players are involved with the first team, [there] is the possibility to keep growing and of course adding more experience — and good experience. It's easy.” The U.S. will begin workouts Monday at the national training center near Atlanta in preparation for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals vs. Haiti. The first leg, or Haitian “home” game, is Nov. 14 in Miami, followed by the decider Nov. 17 in Cincinnati. Pochettino also invited three outsiders: Midfielder Santiago Castañeda, 21, and defender Reed Baker-Whiting, 21, will join their first senior camp and defender Bryan Reynolds, 25, will seek his first appearance for the U.S. since 2023. “Now it's a moment we need to add players to the roster to try to provide a good balance to the team,” Pochettino said of the 2030 World Cup cycle. “It's a great opportunity for different players now, and … to have the possibility to mix younger with experienced players.” Cavan Sullivan is among seven young USMNT prospects who earned another call-up after impressing during the team's four-game winning streak earlier this fall. Taylor Banner/USSF via Getty Images The young influx comes at the expense of seasoned players, such as Tim Weah, Brenden Aaronson, Matt Turner and Joe Scally. In addition, Yunus Musah was passed over after playing in the recent friendlies. The moves also provide cover for experienced players injured or just returning from injury, such as Ricardo Pepi, Haji Wright, Alex Zendejas and Miles Robinson. The veteran core does remain in place: World Cup members Tyler Adams, Malik Tillman, Gio Reyna, Sebastian Berhalter, Chris Richards, Alex Freeman, Antonee Robinson, Sergiño Dest, Auston Trusty and Matt Freese are back in camp after playing in the September-October window. Pochettino also brought back Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Weston McKennie for the first time since the World Cup. The U.S. has advanced to the Nations League’s final four in each of the previous four editions of the regional competition, which doubles as qualifying for next summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup. (The final four will take place in late March at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.) Because the Nations League is consequential, Pochettino was not going to experiment as much as he did in the sweep of friendlies against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada. But by retaining several young players, he displayed confidence in the newcomers and made clear to the older group that roster slots are not guaranteed. He also wants to see in training camp how well young and old mesh. “It's important always to try to add new ideas, new ways to try to perform and to create different patterns on the field with the ball,” Pochettino said. “We are going to start to see the chemistry off the field, but also on the field — that is really important too, and try to see how that works.” Mathis Albert (R) could get his first opportunity to play alongside Christian Pulisic as Mauricio Pochettino looks to build chemistry between the USMNT's rising stars and established veterans. AP Photo/Jeff Roberson He referenced Albert, a fleet-footed winger, working with Pulisic for the first time and Sullivan, a quick and clever attacker, teaming with McKennie for the first time. “It's a great opportunity to test the feelings and the chemistry between them,” Pochettino added. While seven prospects from the previous camp were retained, the others are expected to join the under-23 squad overseas for a camp and friendlies: Zavier Gozo, Brooklyn Raines, Peyton Miller, Frankie Westfield and Cole Campbell. U.S. under-23 coach Steve Cherundolo is beginning preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, which is an under-23 tournament, with three overage exceptions. He will conduct camps during most if not all international windows the next 18 months. (The U.S. under-20s will also gather next week, at the Georgia headquarters.) Pochettino said he looks forward to reuniting with Balogun, the U.S. top scorer at the World Cup. He was at the center of controversy after a red-card suspension for the round of 16 was set aside by FIFA ; President Donald Trump said he contacted the governing body to complain about the red card . The red card did not carry over after the World Cup. Instead, FIFA placed Balogun on one-year probation in which the suspension “remains dormant … and will only be activated if he commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during that one-year period.” Late in the summer, Balogun was in another firestorm when he nixed an imminent transfer from Monaco to Everton at the very last moment. An injury has kept him out of Monaco’s starting lineup as well. (Over the weekend, as a sub, he scored his first goal since the World Cup.) “It is a great opportunity to keep helping him to evolve after a tough summer after the World Cup,” Pochettino said. “The combination [at striker] between Balo, Ellis and Hall is perfect.” USMNT notes Center back George Campbell, who played twice in the last camp, was selected to the squad again, despite picking up an apparent groin injury while captaining second-tier English club West Brom. “We are waiting on more information,” Pochettino said. “Today or tomorrow we will have everything. If that is not positive, we already are thinking [of a] different option.” French-based Mark McKenzie would be a prime option.