United States men’s national team manager Mauricio Pochettino has unveiled his 26-player squad for October’s international window, with matches set against Ecuador in Austin on Oct. 10 and Australia in Commerce City, Colorado, on Oct. 14. Both opponents have already secured their places at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
The roster is headlined by AC Milan attacker Christian Pulisic, who is in red-hot form with six goals in all competitions this season, along with Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie and Fulham left back Antonee Robinson, returning after recovering from knee surgery.
Key Notes
- Back in the mix: Robinson makes his first U.S. appearance of 2025 after missing much of last year due to injury. McKennie also returns for the first time since March’s Concacaf Nations League.
- Form rewarded: Lyon’s Tanner Tessmann and Middlesbrough’s Aidan Morris earned call-ups after strong club starts, while Haji Wright leads the Championship scoring charts with seven goals.
- First under Pochettino: St. Pauli midfielder James Sands joins the squad for the first time since the coaching change.
- Notable absentees: Tyler Adams, Giovanni Reyna, Ricardo Pepi, and Sergiño Dest all miss out due to injury. Joe Scally and Josh Sargent were left off despite strong club form.
Full Roster
Goalkeepers (4)
Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Matt Turner (New England Revolution)
Defenders (8)
Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic/SCO), Alex Freeman (Orlando City), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/FRA), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati)
Midfielders (8)
Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/ENG), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough/ENG), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), James Sands (St. Pauli/GER), Tanner Tessmann (Lyon/FRA), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen/GER)
Forwards (6)
Patrick Agyemang (Derby County/ENG), Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco/FRA), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA), Tim Weah (Marseille/FRA), Haji Wright (Coventry City/ENG), Alex Zendejas (Club América/MEX)
What’s Next
The squad convenes in Austin on Oct. 4 ahead of the first test against Ecuador at Q2 Stadium. Four days later, the U.S. travels to Colorado for a matchup with Australia at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park.
Both games will provide crucial preparation as the Americans build toward next summer’s World Cup on home soil.
Author: Quique Lopez
Quique Lopez doesn’t just cover soccer—he deconstructs it with the precision of a veteran and the wit of a storyteller. A former player who sees the pitch as both a tactical chessboard and a cultural stage, Quique balances sharp critiques with a genuine love for the game’s soul. He’s as quick to call out the ego of a superstar as he is to find the hidden beauty in a local derby.