Pochettino to blend experience and rising USMNT stars in first post-World Cup friendlies

Mauricio Pochettino is preparing for the U.S. men's national team's first games after the World Cup with a clear plan: bring a group of rising talents into a squad that will still lean on its experienced core. The head coach is working from a pool of roughly 100 players before narrowing the list to 26 for four fall friendlies against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada, the starting point of a project aimed squarely at the 2030 World Cup.

• Pochettino will pair experienced players with young prospects pushing for a place in the senior squad.
• The coach is weighing about 100 candidates before selecting 26 for the fall friendlies.
• Philadelphia Union's Cavan Sullivan and Crystal Palace's Zavier Gozo headline the next generation.
• Pochettino is coordinating with Under-23 coach Steve Cherundolo ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
• The Argentine has also taken on an advisory role to help reshape American youth soccer.

Why the fall friendlies mark a fresh start for the USMNT

Two years after taking the job, Pochettino views this fall window as a new beginning. For the first time, he is no longer racing against the clock he faced in his initial 18 months between his debut and the World Cup opener on home soil. With a renewed contract running through 2030, the project now has room to breathe.

That breathing room allows him to lean into one of his coaching trademarks: giving young players meaningful minutes without overexposing them. The idea is for those prospects to learn how to handle the pressure of playing with the senior national team in official matches, with veterans providing a safety net.

Cavan Sullivan, Zavier Gozo and the next wave of American talent

The generational shift taking shape in the U.S. national team has recognizable names already. Cavan Sullivan, the Philadelphia Union standout, has his future mapped out with Manchester City once he turns 18 in September 2026. Zavier Gozo, 19, made his Premier League debut for Crystal Palace last month after moving from Real Salt Lake this summer as one of the most exciting prospects in American soccer.

But the talent pool runs deeper. Pochettino pointed to MLS academies in New York, Orlando, Nashville and Atlanta as sources of future call-ups. He wants those players to bring fresh energy and a different feel to a squad entering a period of transformation.

Noahkai Banks and the dual-national dilemma

The coaching staff remains in contact with dual nationals who are still weighing their international futures. One player is out of the picture for now: defender Noahkai Banks, who continues to consider representing either the United States or Germany a year after taking part in a USMNT camp.

Pochettino was direct: without a firm decision, those players cannot be considered for the upcoming squad. The door, however, has not been closed permanently.

Working with Steve Cherundolo and the road to Los Angeles 2028

Coordination with the Under-23 team is a central piece of the project. Pochettino and Steve Cherundolo work closely to manage a pool of young players who need consistent minutes, whether with the senior side or the Olympic team. The challenge is finding the right balance between both squads during each international break.

The men's Olympic soccer tournament in Los Angeles 2028 is a youth competition and will serve as a mid-cycle checkpoint before the 2030 World Cup. Pochettino is clear about the ambition: compete for the first Olympic gold medal in U.S. men's soccer history, on home soil.

Changing habits, managing pressure and protecting young players

The coach also wants to reshape the habits of his internationals. Throughout his two years in charge, he has repeated a message that he now delivers with more force: the idea that skipping tournaments like the Concacaf Gold Cup is a way to arrive fresh at a World Cup has to go. He does not name names, but the reference to recent decisions by star players is hard to miss.

For Pochettino, the issue sits not only with the players but with the networks around them. That is why he welcomes his new advisory role within the federation, where he will help reorganize the country's youth soccer system. The goal is to simplify a fragmented structure and align clubs, coaches and players behind a common vision.

Why the staff is cautious with the youngest prospects

Pochettino warns about the dangers of promoting teenagers too quickly. A 16-, 17- or 18-year-old can dazzle with a few strong performances and suddenly find themselves under the kind of spotlight they are not ready to manage. Exaggerated comparisons and outside pressure can derail a career instead of helping it.

That is why balance matters most to him. He wants to provide a platform for growth, but with humility and care at every step. The national team staff is committed to helping talented young players build their careers professionally, without skipping stages.

Tracking USMNT players at their clubs

Pochettino's work does not stop when international breaks end. In the opening weeks of the European season, his staff has closely followed American players at their clubs. This weekend, they attended Crystal Palace's 3-2 win at Fulham, where World Cup standouts Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson faced off for their respective sides.

The monitoring goes beyond match performance. The coach says his team also tracks how players behave with opponents and teammates, what they say in interviews and when they arrive at training. For Pochettino, those details define what an elite international is and help build a genuinely competitive team.