SouthernWorldwide.com – As the United States men’s national soccer team roster for the upcoming FIFA World Cup approaches, a pervasive sense of uncertainty has settled over the team’s prospects.
Sources close to the situation indicate that Mauricio Pochettino, the team’s manager, will finalize his selection of 26 players this weekend. Pochettino has previously stated his intention not to contact the more than 50 players he has called up during his 20-month tenure.
This period is significantly shorter than the typical four-year cycle afforded to most national team coaches. Pochettino has deliberately dismantled the established hierarchy that was in place under his predecessor, Gregg Berhalter. His aim has been to broaden the player pool by introducing hungry young talents and to challenge veterans who had grown overly comfortable with their starting positions.
Key players from the Qatar 2022 World Cup, such as striker Josh Sargent and midfielder Yunus Musah, have been absent from recent call-ups for months. Even Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie, a standout performer, was notably left out of September friendlies against Japan and South Korea. This decision served as a clear message to other veterans, a sentiment Pochettino himself articulated.
“No one has a place for sure,” he stated prior to that training camp, emphasizing that past performances would not guarantee future selection.
Given this approach, it is unsurprising that players are currently on edge as a potentially life-altering decision looms. A source close to one of Pochettino’s regular selections revealed on Thursday that they are uncertain whether the news will bring joy or disappointment.
This sentiment is likely shared by many within the squad.
McKennie’s response to being overlooked in September was a career-best season, solidifying his position as a likely inclusion. Forward Christian Pulisic, despite a scoring drought with AC Milan, and other key players like midfielder Tyler Adams, fullback Antonee “Jedi” Robinson, and center-back Chris Richards are also considered strong contenders. However, Richards’ availability is in question following news on Thursday that he suffered an ankle ligament tear last week while playing for Crystal Palace.
Beyond these few, the remaining spots are subject to considerable speculation, leaving players and observers to guess the manager’s intentions.
Pochettino has maintained a consistent backroom staff for nearly two decades, bringing assistant coaches Jesus Perez, Miguel D’Agostino, and Toni Jimenez with him from Espanyol to Southampton, then to Spurs, before their moves to PSG, Chelsea, and now the U.S. national team. This cohesive unit, operating primarily from Europe and communicating in Spanish, has resulted in a significant lack of leaks regarding team selections compared to previous World Cup roster announcements.
During a brief period on Thursday evening, one source informed me that a player widely expected to be selected had sustained an injury and was likely out. Unprompted, another source contradicted this, stating the player was fine and therefore in contention. A similar ambiguity surrounds another veteran player, leaving it difficult to ascertain their current standing.
“I’m not sure even Gooch knows” who will make the cut, a source revealed, referring to Oguchi Onyewu, the acting U.S. Soccer sporting director.
The only piece of information that can be confidently reported after over a week of investigation is that 19-year-old Real Salt Lake sensation Zavier Gozo was included in the provisional World Cup squad that U.S. Soccer submitted to FIFA before the May 11 deadline.
This preliminary list can include up to 55 names, from which the final 26 must be chosen. Whether Gozo will retain his spot when Pochettino makes his official announcement on Tuesday remains to be seen. While intuition suggests it is unlikely, the reality is that a definitive answer is currently unavailable.
