USMNT roster for Concacaf Nations League: Mauricio Pochettino explains notable snubs, ‘It’s a numbers game’

The national team of the American gentlemen has been set up for the Concacadf Nations Leauge Finals. The USMNT starts on March 20 Panama at Sofi Stadium On Paramount+ With the first trophy of the Mauricio Pochettino era at their locations. Injuries to Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi together with Serginio Dest return to health, but not as ready for this Roster means that the depth of the USMNT has been tested, but Pochettino will still have a strong start XI to choose from together with players who can get in the right circumstances.

Antonee Robinson, Christian Pulisic and Josh Sargent can be one of the first names on the team magazine with their strong form for their clubs in 2025, but the impact of January camp is also shown. Six players who were in that camp are now here for the Concacaf Nations League. Some such as Diego Luna, Brian White and Patrick Agyemang can have opportunities to make an impact, given the lack of depth in their positions.

Gio Renya also made the team, despite starting three games for Borussia Dortmund in 2025 in all competitions. He has scored a goal from the bank, but is struggling for playing time in his club, Renya will have to show that he deserves to be under Pochettino in the starting XI despite his enormous talent.

Grille

Keepers (3): Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; 3/0), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids; 30/0), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace/Eng; 49/0)

Defenders (8): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic/SCO; 18/0), Marlon Fossey (Standard Lieuge/Bell; 1/0), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/Fra; 17/0), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; 67/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/Eng; 23/1) Mönchengladbach/Ger; 19/0), Auston Trusty (Celtic/SCO;

Midfielders (6): Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/Eng; 42/2), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis/Esp; 18/0), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; 3/0), Weston Mckennie (Juventus/Ita; 58/11), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/)))

Forwards (6): Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC; 2/2), Yunus Musah (AC Milan/To Now; 45/1), Christian Polisic (AC Milan/Today; 76/32), Josh Sargent (Norwich City; 3/1)

Musah on the wing?

If you look through the schedule, you may almost miss the recording of Musah in the team, but he is, just mentioned as an attacker. He played something on the wing for Milan and the USMNT, but these tips pochettin’s hand a bit to an attacking band from Musah, Pulisic and Weah all support Sargent as the only attacker. It is an attitude in which the USMNT can be dynamic after Pochettin’s eye tests have established that Weah was dominant while using the attacker there in the quarterfinals against Jamaica. Weah responded with a goal in a thunderous victory, so there is no reason not to see if it can continue during this window.

Opposite Jamaica, the trio was in support of Ricardo Pepi with McKennie and Tessmann in midfield behind them, but with Tyler Adams back that could shift a little. Pochettino gets the chance to push his attack even more because of the ground The Bournemouth midfielder can cover behind them. Adams has not appeared before the USMNT since Copa America in 2024, but now Pochettino will have all his top midfielders who offers even more flexibility to move Musah.

The impact of the club’s world cup

Although this is not the last competitive international break before the Concacaf World Cup qualification – in which the USMNT will not participate – kicks in equipment for players from Borussia Dortmund and Juventus, Pochettino will probably not have in the summer because of the club World Cup. In contrast to Standard FIFA International Breaks, where national teams are given priority for players selected, clubs are given priority during the CWC.

“We decide to call him because it is the only chance we have now. He will not be available in the future because of the clubworld cup,” Pochettino said about the recording of Reyna in the team. “That’s why we decided to call him and see him in the team. He doesn’t play much, but he is a good player to consider.”

This camp will be Reyna’s first under Pochettino because of missing the Nations League Quarter Finals with a Liesstam. Pochettino would otherwise have to look at his first glance at Reyna in games where something is not at stake, in contrast to players he has seen such as Brenden Aaronson and Alejandro Zendejas, both missed. These schedules are always a figure game and Pochettino was limited by bringing in only 23 players for this camp. The manager had more to say about the recording of Reyna, despite the minutes he has recorded under the management of Dortmund.

“He deserved to be here. He improves, but he can still do it better. We have to push him. We have to understand how he thinks, how he likes to play. We want to win this competition and we think he can help,” Pochettino said. “We’re going to try to create this relationship with him and see how he can help us.”

Only Reyna can show that he deserves to be here and Pochettino understands that, but it is always easier to push a player when something is on the line.

Too much depth?

A large collection meal of the Pochettino press conference is how much depth he has at his disposal. “It’s about figures,” was Pochettino’s answer when he was asked about the exclusion of Aaronson and Zentejas. With players like Diego Luna and Reyna who come in the fold, Pochettino has to find out what the best balance is for what he wants. There is a chance that players such as Aaronson may not include and the versatility of the midfielder can work against him.

While Aaronson is able to play the wing, 10 or as a deeper midfielder, but his true position is somewhere in between. With Pochetino shifting to more of a 4-2-3-1 than a 4-3-3, that may not be room for that in the current setup, P especially with Musah on the wing. It does not mean that a player is from the position of Pochtino. If something has been given that the three players who make their first big team after impressing the January camp. Brian White, Patrick Agyemang and Diego Luna will all get their shots to show what they can do against top opposition.

Lack of depth was rather a concern, but if the younger players can get up and help the USMNT, Pochettino is on his way to turn that into a force. That is where he brought here and for this team to be competitive in the World Cup 2026, it will have to happen.