Out of the 13 previously uncapped USMNT players on the roster for the September-October window, it’s hard to find any who didn’t make a positive first impression on Mauricio Pochettino. Of course, that doesn’t mean all of them are ready to be regular contributors at the international level.
In some cases, it’s clear that certain players are ready to take the next step with the national team. However, some players need more time to develop before Pochettino will trust them in a competitive match. With Nations League games against Haiti coming up in November, these youngsters probably won’t get serious consideration to be part of that roster, needing more time to develop before returning to the USMNT.
Zavier Gozo
The hype train for Gozo was moving swiftly over the summer, but it’s slowed down considerably since then. He played just 28 minutes over four games during the international break, which is a signal that he’s not ready to be a serious contributor for the USMNT. His playing time has been lacking at Crystal Palace as well, so he didn’t come into national team camp in great form. Gozo is still a promising prospect, but until he works his way into regular minutes at Crystal Palace, it’s hard to envision him playing competitive matches internationally.
Mathis Albert
Albert played in all four matches during the international window, earning a start in the final game against Canada and scoring a goal against Chile. There’s no doubt that he can change games with his speed, but he still looks a little raw. With the other options the U.S. has on the wing, it’s tough to make an argument that he’s ready to contribute in a competitive match. The fact that he’s not seeing much action at Borussia Dortmund also makes it hard for Pochettino to call him into camp in November. Similar to Gozo, he needs more time at club level before returning to the national team.
17-year-old Mathis Albert becomes the youngest goal scorer in @USMNT history 👏🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/8nUZB1TvCT
— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) September 30, 2026
Adri Mehmeti
It was nice seeing Mehmeti get his first taste of international football. But he ended up playing just 80 minutes across three appearances, even after starting against Chile. Still just 17, Mehmeti is a little out of his depth at the international level. There’s also no need to rush him. Coming out of his first international window, Mehmeti is clearly a long-term prospect rather than someone who’ll be ready to contribute in the immediate future, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Neil Pierre
Pierre is in a similar boat to Mehmeti. He started against Chile, but only played 82 total minutes during the international break. If Pochettino was hesitant to play him against Mexico and Canada, it’s unlikely he’ll trust him for competitive matches in November. In the long run, Pierre might be the USMNT’s best center-back prospect, and he could very well be in the plans for the 2030 World Cup. However, he’s not likely to be involved in November, so Pochettino will need to find a center-back solution elsewhere for the time being.
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