11/04/2026 10:58:00
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11/04 10:56 CST Pulisic, Balogun, McKennie back on US roster for CONCACAF
Nations League quarterfinals vs. Haiti
Pulisic, Balogun, McKennie back on US roster for CONCACAF Nations League
quarterfinals vs. Haiti
By RONALD BLUM
AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --- Looking to the present along with the future, U.S. coach
Mauricio Pochettino recalled Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Weston
McKennie to the national team for its CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals
against Haiti while bringing in Reed Baker-Whiting and Santiago Castaeda for
possible debuts.
Pochettino's 25-man roster announced Wednesday included 19 of the players who
were with the team for friendlies in September and October and half of the 26
players he took to this year's World Cup --- including 10 starters in the
Americans' final match against Belgium. Six players are under 20.
"It's very important for us to add more options, more players with the
possibility to challenge the familiar faces," Pochettino said during an online
news conference from London.
Pulisic missed the exhibition wins over Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada while
the winger worked his way back from a microfracture of his right tibia and
fibula sustained in the 4-1 loss to Belgium at the World Cup's round of 16.
Balogun, a striker whose red card-suspension at the World Cup was
controversially suspended after a phone call from U.S. President Donald Trump
to FIFA head Gianni Infantino, was omitted for those friendlies when he didn't
play in Monaco's first four Ligue 1 matches this season after a possible
transfer to Everton fell through. He has appeared in five matches since, all as
a second-half substitute.
"It's a great opportunity to keep helping him to evolve after a tough summer,
after the World Cup," Pochettino said.
Pochettino's young players are headed by striker Cavan Sullivan, who made his
national team debut in September two days before his 17th birthday and became
the youngest American goal scorer a week later against Mexico. The roster also
includes 17-year-old midfielders Mathis Albert and Adri Mehmeti, 18-year-old
forward Julian Hall, 19-year-old forward Justin Ellis and 19-year-old defender
Neil Pierre.
Baker-Whiting, a Nashville right back, and Castaeda, a Paderborn midfielder,
are both 21.
Defender Bryan Reynolds, 25, returns to the team for the first time since the
2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He debuted in 2021 at age 19.
"They deserve the possibility to be with us, for us to feel them and for them
to to see how they can fit in our national team," Pochettino said.
Bypassed players include goalkeeper Matt Turner, defenders Max Arfsten, Cameron
Carter-Vickers, Mark McKenzie and Joe Scally, midfielder Aidan Morris and
winger Tim Weah.
After training in Georgia, the No. 16 U.S. faces 84th-ranked Haiti on Nov. 14
in Miami and Nov. 17 in Cincinnati in a total-goals series for a berth in the
Nations League semifinals to be played from March 22-30 at SoFi Stadium in
Inglewood, California.
Dropped players who were on the September roster include goalkeeper Chris
Brady, defenders Miles Robinson and Frankie Westfield, midfielders Zavier Gozo
and Yunus Musah, and forwards Cole Campbell and Damion Downs.
Some players not selected will be with the under-23 team preparing for the 2028
Olympics. Its training camp roster will be announced Thursday.
Defender Miles Robinson, midfielder Johnny Cardoso and forwards Haji Wright and
Alejandro Zendejas were ruled out because of injuries. Striker Ricardo Pepi was
left off following a leg muscle injury that sidelined him between Sept. 20 and
last Saturday.
Defender George Campbell was selected but left West Bromwich Albion's match
Tuesday because of an injury and could be replaced.
The roster:
Goalkeepers: Matt Freese (New York City), Diego Kochen (Lyngby), Brian Schwake
(Nashville).
Defenders: Reed Baker-Whiting (Nashville), George Campbell (West Bromwich
Albion), Sergio Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Neil Pierre
(Philadelphia), Bryan Reynolds (Rennes), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace),
Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Auston Trusty (Celtic).
Midfielders: Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Mathis Albert (Borussia Dortmund),
Sebastian Berhalter (Middlesbrough), Santiago Castaeda (Paderborn), Weston
McKennie (Juventus), Adri Mehmeti (New York Red Bulls), Gio Reyna (Strasbourg),
Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen).
Forwards: Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Justin Ellis (Orlando), Julian Hall (New
York Red Bulls), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia).
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