Pochettino trimmed his USMNT roster from 60 down to 23, with some obvious picks and surprise omissions
With the 2026 World Cup just 15 months away, the U.S. men's national team player pool continues to take shape. It's still evolving, of course, as Mauricio Pochettino continues to learn about his group ahead of his fourth camp in charge.
But with his 23-man CONCACAF Nations League roster, Pochettino did offer some insight into where things stand on the road to 2026.
On Tuesday, U.S. Soccer announced Pochettino's team as the USMNT trimmed a 60-man preliminary list down to just 23. Many of the notable names were there: Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tim Weah, for example. Several, such as Tyler Adams and Gio Reyna, are back on the team – but for the first time under Pochettino. There were January camp and MLS stars, too, fresh off their big wins two months back.
Still, while 23 from the 60 did receive that call-up, that means 27 did not. There were surprises among that list of omissions, players that many expected would be involved as the USMNT pushes for a fourth consecutive Nations League crown, starting with a March 20 semifinal against Panama.
For those among the 27, this will certainly be a reminder that World Cup spots are on the line. It should be a reminder for the 23 who made it, too.
GOAL looks at the winners and losers from the USMNT's Nations League squad selection.
GettyWINNER: Gio Reyna
Despite everything that has gone on over the last few years, Reyna has generally stepped up for the USMNT. He'll get that opportunity again in this camp as, once again, Reyna returns to camp in need of a jolt due to his club situation.
Reyna hasn't played much for Dortmund this season – including subbing in late in the team's Champions League victory over Lille on Wednesday. When he has, he generally hasn't been at his best. The USMNT midfielder has seemed to lack confidence, a player that hasn't quite figured out how to impact a game with this Dortmund team as assembled. In that sense, it's a risk to rely on him in games of this magnitude.
In other ways, though, it isn't risky at all. Reyna has shown time and time again that he can separate his club form from his international form. He was named Best Player at the Nations League tournament just last year. He scored in the 2021 final, provided assists in the 2023 final and then, again, last year scored to earn that Best Player nod. More than anyone, Reyna has dominated this particular competition, and that's regardless of his club form.
Now he'll relish the chance to work under Pochettino for the first time and, perhaps, the last time in a while. Because of the Club World Cup, Reyna would likely not be available for this summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup if he remains at Dortmund. That fact has to be taken into account, too, even if his Dortmund future is far from certain.
"I think one of the reasons to call him is because was a great opportunity," Pochettino said. "If not, it's going to be difficult to see him."
This run under the USMNT boss could ignite him for Dortmund. Reyna has generally performed when he puts on a USMNT shirt, and If he does that again this camp, it'll be a huge step forward under the new coach.
"I think his talent is there," Pochettino said, "and it's good to feel and see how he can help."
AdvertisementGettyLOSER: Brenden Aaronson
Pochettino insisted that Aaronson's omission wasn't about form, it was about numbers. The reality is this, though: when you're in good form, the numbers seem to work in your favor, don't they?
After a strong start to the season with Leeds, Aaronson has taken of a step back recently, scoring just once since the start of the new year. Leeds, of course, have kept on rolling and look bound for promotion. In fact, Aaronson and Leeds defeated Millwall 2-0 on Wednesday, retaining their spot atop the English Championship. The American played all 90 minutes and put on a brilliant midfield performance.
He needs to keep turning in those high-caliber efforts. In the end, Pochettino broke down the numbers in terms of roster spots. After impressing in January camp, Diego Luna was in. So, too, was Reyna. Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic can play as a No. 10, too. There were other spots in the squad to address and, as a result, Aaronson was left out.
The question is: now what? This certainly isn't a death blow for Aaronson's USMNT, but it is definitely a red flag. Aaronson is experienced and he certainly adds something to the national team but, going forward, he'll need to deliver more. He spoke to GOAL in the fall about adding more goals and assists to his game, and those would clearly help his case.
Aaronson is fighting for his place , and this exclusion showed just how hard that fight will be for the next year or so.
Getty ImagesWINNER: January campers
For those who consider January camps a waste of time, here's the contrary evidence.
Patrick Agyemang and Luna were the two big winners of that camp and, based on those performances, both are in this team. Neither have overwhelmed in the early MLS season, but they haven't had to. Luna, in particular, is someone that Pochettino has been tracking for some time and believes is ready to take a big leap forward.
"He's a player that we followed from the day that we signed with the USA national team," Pochettino said. "We want to give another possibility, not only in January camp, but to have continuity. He's a player that can provide different things during a game and it's important for him to feel that confidence from us. He was good in the January camp and that's why we wanted to provide the possibility of joining us again."
Luna and Agyemang aren't the only ones, though. Brian White is one of the more surprising inclusions on the roster after he, like Agyemang, was among the goalscorers in January. He's the biggest beneficiary of the USMNT's striker injury crisis and now, at the very least, he'll get a chance to win an international medal at age 29 in his first non-January call-up.
"To have [Josh Sargent] and have Brian White and, of course, Patrick Agyemang, it's a good competition that then provides the national team with a good three strikers competing to play in a very important tournament," Pochettno said.
Zack Steffen fits in that group, too. After several frustrating years out of the picture, Steffen was given a chance at January camp, too, and he passed with flying colors. He beat out Drake Callender, Matt Freese, Ethan Horvath and Diego Kochen for the third goalkeeper spot, likely due to his performance against Costa Rica a few weeks back.
It goes to show that January camp, even in its current form, has its value. It's still a launchpad, even if it launches fewer careers than before because of the rise of Americans in Europe. Let this show that those games pay dividends.
Getty Images SportLOSER: Alejandro Zendejas
While Aaronson's exclusion was a bit easier to explain, Zendejas' is hard to justify. He's in the form of his life at Club America, scoring and assisting for fun for the Liga MX champions. It wasn't enough, though, as Zendejas, too, was among those left out of the team.
On form alone, it's hard to justify. After leading Club America to an Apertura title with four goal contributions in the final three games, Zendejas has been on fire to start the Clausura campaign. He has five goals and five assists in the first nine games of the new season. Again, though, it wasn't enough.
Pochettino went in a different direction. Pulisic and Weah are the obvious starting wingers, so no issues there. Reyna and Luna, meanwhile, could play as inverted wingers if needed. Yunus Musah, too, is listed as a forward, which does indicate one of the ways Pochettino could use the versatile AC Milan regular.
It all left Zendejas as the odd man out, despite him proving regularly on the club level that he can be a match-winner. It'll be a tough pill to swallow for the 27-year-old winger, but all he can do at the moment is keep playing well ahead of a potential return later this year.
