Mauricio Pochettino names first USMNT squad for Panama and Mexico friendlies: Weston McKennie, Antonee Robinson, Tim Weah return to join Christian Pulisic as headliners

Mauricio Pochettino announced his first set of call-ups for U.S. men’s national team squad Wednesday, with the coach selecting 25 players to the October training camp roster. The squad is headlined by the surging Christian Pulisic, who has been on fire in Milan since the USMNT last convened in September for a loss to Canada and draw with New Zealand.

Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and Antonee Robinson all returned to the squad after missing out in September. Former U.S. No. 1 goalkeeper Zack Steffen returns to squad for the first time since 2022 while Gianluca Busio has a chance to make his first appearance since 2023.

Gio Reyna and Chris Richards, meanwhile, have been left out of the team due to injury.

GOALKEEPERS (4): Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City/WAL; 9/0), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; 2/0), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids; 29/0), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace/ENG; 45/0)

DEFENDERS: Marlon Fossey (Standard Liege), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach), Auston Trusty (Celtic)

MIDFIELDERS: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Gianluca Busio (Venezia), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough), Yunus Musah (AC Milan), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven)

FORWARDS: Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Josh Sargent (Norwich City), Timothy Weah (Juventus), Haji Wright (Coventry City)

Despite just being friendlies, there is heightened attention due to the arrival of Pochettino, who will be on the touchline for the first time. The Argentine’s arrival was confirmed shortly before the USMNT’s draw with New Zealand last month, ending a weeks of rumors about the team’s search for a new head coach.

Pochettino gives the USMNT a legitimate world-class manager, one who has coached at the highest levels of European soccer. He’ll no doubt need to adjust his style to the international game, though, and with just over a year-and-a-half remaining before the start of the World Cup, time is of the essence for this USMNT program.

The U.S. will first take on Panama on Oct. 12 in Austin, Texas before traveling south to face Mexico in Guadalajara three days later. After that, the focus will turn towards November, when the U.S. will play two matches against a to-be-determined opponent in the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals.