The current United States men`s national team camp represents the longest period coach Mauricio Pochettino will have the squad together since taking charge in September 2024. However, the team will be without several key players, as Folarin Balogun, DeJuan Jones, and Sean Zawadzki have all withdrawn from the USMNT camp due to injuries. Walker Zimmerman, Nathan Harriel, and Paxten Aaronson have been called in as replacements for the upcoming friendly matches against Turkey and Switzerland, which precede the Gold Cup tournament.
Monaco striker Folarin Balogun has sustained an ankle injury, ruling him out of making his first appearance under Pochettino. Balogun was sidelined with a shoulder injury when the Argentine manager was initially appointed, and now the team`s top forward will miss another camp. He`s not the only significant player absent; Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie, and Gio Reyna are also unavailable.
Player absences stem from various reasons. Some players have club obligations this summer, including participation in the Club World Cup, while Christian Pulisic was reportedly left out to get some summer rest. While the Gold Cup often features a roster focused on domestic talent, making star absences less surprising in a typical year, this tournament holds particular importance. With the next men`s World Cup approaching and the USMNT automatically qualified as a host, this is the last significant competitive tournament the team will play beforehand, as they won`t participate in World Cup qualifying matches.
Given that this is Pochettino`s most extended time with the senior squad, it presents a valuable opportunity to move past the disappointment of the recent Concacaf Nations League campaign. In that tournament, the USMNT not only saw Mexico claim the trophy but also finished fourth after losing the third-place game to Canada. Improvement is essential under Pochettino`s leadership, but integrating his tactical approach effectively will be more challenging without the full core group of players available.
Balogun`s injury opens up significant opportunities for other forwards like Patrick Agyemang and Brian White. However, if the strikers currently in camp struggle to find their goal-scoring touch, the team`s overall offensive struggles could continue.
USMNT Roster
GOALKEEPERS (4): Chris Brady (Chicago Fire; 0/0), Matt Freese (New York City FC; 0/0), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids; 30/0), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace/ENG; 51/0)
DEFENDERS (9): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew; 3/0), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 33/2), Alex Freeman (Orlando City; 0/0), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/FRA; 19/0), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; 68/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 24/1), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 32/3), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 43/3)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/ENG; 47/8), Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/ENG; 44/2), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 0/0), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis/ESP; 18/0), Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC; 24/1), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; 4/0), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo; 4/1), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 17/0)
FORWARDS (5): Paxten Aaronson (FC Utrecht/NED; 1/0), Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC; 4/3), Damion Downs (FC Köln/GER; 0/0), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 4/1), Haji Wright (Coventry City/ENG; 15/4)
