Pochettino named his 25-man squad for the two-legged affair as the USMNT look to advance to the semifinals of the tournament
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USMNT roster released for November matchesU.S. clash with Jamaica in Nations League quarterfinalsWeah suspended one match from Copa AmericaFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
As the U.S. men's national team aims to win it's fourth-straight CONCACAF Nations League title, manager Mauricio Pochettino has called up 25 players for their two-legged quarterfinal series with Jamaica – headlined by Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tim Weah but absent Josh Sargent and Folarin Balogun.
Also making the squad from last month were the likes Ricardo Pepi and Joe Scally. One other notable absence is Haji Wright, who played a major role in a Coventry City comeback Saturday but left the match in the 89th minute with what appeared to be an ankle injury.
Players are set to report to camp Sunday and Monday, with the team departing for Jamaica in advance of their for their opening match against the on Thursday.
This will mark Pochettino's first competitive matches in charge of the program after playing two international friendlies in October, a 2-0 win over Panama and a 2-0 loss to Mexico.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE ROSTER IN FULL
GOALKEEPERS (4): Diego Kochen (FC Barcelona Atletic/ESP; 0/0), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; 2/0), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids; 29/0), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace/ENG; 47/0)
DEFENDERS (7): Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/FRA; 15/0), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; 64/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 23/1) Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 48/4), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 30/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 17/0), Auston Trusty (Celtic/SCO; 3/0)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/ENG; 46/8), Gianluca Busio (Venezia/ITA; 15/1), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis/ESP; 17/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 56/11), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough/ENG; 9/0), Yunus Musah (AC Milan; ITA; 43/1), Tanner Tessmann (Olympique Lyon/FRA; 4/0), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 16/0)
FORWARDS (6): Cade Cowell (Guadalajara/MEX; 10/1), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 31/11), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA; 74/31), Brandon Vazquez (Monterrey/MEX; 9/4), Tim Weah (Juventus/ITA; 41/6), Alex Zendejas (Club América/MEX; 9/1)
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Sargent, Balogun and Wright will miss out due to injury, while Gio Reyna and Sergino Dest remain sidelined as well. Despite logging his first start of the season for Bournemouth at the weekend, Tyler Adams misses camp as well. With six key players out of the mix in camp, it will be up to Pochettino to determine how to get the most out of his squad, while deploying an XI with experience and drive to succeed in CONCACAF environments.
Notably, defender Chris Richards was selected despite not playing at the club level for Crystal Palace since Sept. 21 due to injury. The 24-year-old did make the teamsheet in a 2-0 loss to Fulham Saturday, but went unused.
Twenty members of the November camp return from last month's performances under Pochettino, but five newcomers also highlight the squad – Chris Richards, Johnny Cardoso, goalkeeper Diego Kochen and forwards Cade Cowell and Tim Weah, all of whom will have opportunities to make their debut under the Argentine's leadership.
Weah, however, is suspended for the first leg in Jamaica as a part of his red card against Panama in the Group Stage of Copa America 2024.
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR THE USMNT?
The U.S. kickoff leg one vs. the on Thursday in Kingston. They'll return home to St. Louis for leg two on Monday, Nov. 18.
The USMNT and Jamaica have met 32 times dating back to 1988. While the U.S. holds an advantage of 19-3-10, seven of the last 10 matches have been decided by a goal or less. Since dropping a 2-1 friendly in Washington, D.C. in 2019, the USMNT have a seven-game unbeaten streak vs. Jamaica.
Most recently, the were challenging the USMNT in the semifinals of the 2023-24 Nations League before a brace from Wright powered the U.S. to the tournament final. The U.S. went on to score another Dos a Cero victory over Mexico for its third-straight title.