Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – United States coach Mauricio Pochettino on Thursday named a new-look 28-man roster for upcoming international friendlies against Peru, Chile, Mexico, and Canada, with only 13 members of the USA’s World Cup squad included. Pochettino, who last month signed a contract extension which will run through the 2030 World Cup, has picked eight teenagers in the squad, including Cavan Sullivan, the 16-year-old midfielder from Philadelphia Union who is set to join Manchester City next year.
Several notable members of the USA’s World Cup campaign, including Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun, are absent as they recover from injuries. “This is the beginning of a fresh start for everyone and we are excited in these first matches to bring a group of experienced players along with some young talents who have great potential,” Pochettino said in a statement. “It will be important that they all understand our culture, our way of working, and of course the principles of how we want to play. Most importantly, they must show the commitment to representing the country in the way our fans deserve.”
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The squad also sees a recall for Yunus Musah, the AC Milan midfielder who fell out of favour with Pochettino last year after electing to skip the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The United States open their international fixtures against Peru on September 26 at Orlando, Florida, and follow that three days later with a match against Chile in St. Louis. The team then faces old rivals Mexico in a friendly in Glendale, Arizona on October 3, before taking on Canada in St. Paul, Minnesota on October 6. The games will be the first USA fixtures since the team was eliminated by Belgium in the last 16 at this year’s World Cup, where they were beaten 4-1.
**Squad:**
**Goalkeepers:** Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Diego Kochen (Lyngby Boldklub/DEN), Brian Schwake (Nashville SC)
**Defenders:** George Campbell (West Bromwich Albion/ENG), Sergino Dest (PSV Eindhoven/NED), Alex Freeman (Villarreal/ESP), Peyton Miller (New England Revolution), Neil Pierre (Philadelphia Union), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG), Miles Robinson (Cincinnati), Auston Trusty (Celtic/SCO), Frankie Westfield (Philadelphia Union)
**Midfielders:** Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/ENG), Mathis Albert (Borussia Dortmund/GER), Sebastian Berhalter (Middlesbrough/ENG), Zavier Gozo (Crystal Palace/ENG), Adri Mehmeti (Red Bull New York), Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA), Brooklyn Raines (New England Revolution), Gio Reyna (Strasbourg/FRA), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen/GER)
**Forwards:** Cole Campbell (Elversberg/GER); Justin Ellis (Orlando City), Julian Hall (Red Bull New York), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/NED), Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union)
© 2024 AFP
