Pochettino's latest USMNT roster selection provides blueprint for long-term project

Mauricio Pochettino revealed his latest USMNT roster Thursday morning and kept true to his statement that it would be a mix of newcomers and veterans. He spoke to reporters following the announcement and reiterated that this marks the beginning of a "fresh start" for every player.

The Argentinian coach extended his contract following a successful World Cup campaign, and in this campaign, he has a full four years to prepare instead of one and a half. He is getting to work early by blending a group of World Cup participants with a new crop of talent.

Key injuries to players such as Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, and Weston McKennie allowed some of these young players the opportunity, but Pochettino made clear during his availability that every player "deserves" their chance to play for the United States.

The youth movement has arrived

Pochettino made his objective clear with this squad selection: begin building the best possible team for the 2030 World Cup. To do so, the U.S. Soccer Federation is making the Olympics in 2028 a priority and preparing the nation's top U-23 players with national team experience.

He was asked about both Cavan Sullivan and Neil Pierre specifically at his availability, and recognized how each is able to play a role despite their age. He compared Sullivan to World Cup winner Lamine Yamal in his ability to perform at a high level at such a young age, and questioned why age should matter if the talent is present. He likened Pierre to an experienced, 30-year-old center back and said any player can do good things or make mistakes.

The Philadelphia Union pair were among 12 former U.S. Youth National Team players who were selected as part of Pochettino's September-October squad, each looking to earn their first USMNT cap. This four-match slate will provide these players with ample training time with veterans and plenty of opportunities to get acclimated to the level of senior international competition.

Olympic Commitment

There are many events between now and the next World Cup, and Pochettino made clear that the Olympic roster for 2028 is already in mind. The U-23 team will compete against the top young talent in Los Angeles. To help speed things up, Pochettino has not only brought many of those players but also the coach, Steve Cherundolo, to camp with him.

Off the heels of a successful run at LAFC, Cherundolo was appointed as the USMNT's U-23 coach this summer and will begin working with his new team early. He will become acclimated to the players as they become acclimated to the system, easing the transition period when preparations ramp up in a couple of years.

It will be critical to integrate these players now so they are able to develop chemistry and confidence leading up to the Olympic period. These players will have the same opportunity as the senior team did this past summer to play in front of a hopeful crowd, and the only color medal on Pochettino's mind is gold.

It is quite promising to see a long-term commitment from Pochettino and the U.S. Soccer Federation. Many positives were clearly taken from the group's World Cup performance, and it is exciting to see so many young players emerging into the senior ranks.

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