Mauricio Pochettino’s US men’s national team swept through its four September-October friendlies with four straight wins, beating Peru, Chile, Mexico, and Canada by a combined 12-3 scoreline. The Argentine coach handed debuts to 13 players, including eight teenagers, signalling a new phase for the USMNT as they look beyond the 2026 World Cup.
The youthful roster injected fresh energy and optimism into the team. Pochettino’s focus on expanding the player pool was clear, with many of the newcomers showing promise to challenge established veterans. The coach faces a selection headache ahead of the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal against Haiti next month, a problem he likely welcomes given the options now available.
Among the standout performers was Gio Reyna, who started all four games—the only US player to do so during this window. The 23-year-old midfielder provided two assists and played a major part in Julian Hall’s opener against Mexico. Reyna’s consistent starts for both club and country, now totaling eight straight, suggest he is finally hitting a stride after years spent simply trying to get consistent minutes.
Right back Alex Freeman extended his run to 25 consecutive matches for the national team. The 22-year-old impressed with both defensive solidity and offensive threat, starting three of the four games. After the Canada match, USMNT legend Landon Donovan described Freeman as "the best player on the field, and it wasn’t even close."
The youngest USMNT debutant, 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan, scored his first international goal against Mexico, becoming the youngest goalscorer in the nation’s history. His audacious strike came after intercepting a pass from Mexico’s goalkeeper Tala Rangel, showing a mix of talent and boldness beyond his years. Sullivan’s impact hints at a regular role in the team moving forward.
Julian Hall, 18, joined Sullivan in making history by scoring in each of his first three appearances. He became only the third US player to accomplish this feat, consistently finding good scoring positions. Hall missed several chances during the window, but his ability to create opportunities remains a strong asset.
Goalkeeper Diego Kochen earned his debut off the bench against Peru and earned a start against Mexico, keeping clean sheets in both matches. The 20-year-old showed solid distribution and made a highlight-reel save versus Mexico. Brian Schwake also played three halves, including a clean sheet against Canada, commanding his area without errors. Their performances suggest a shift in the goalkeeper pecking order.
In contrast, the veteran goalkeepers Matt Freese and Chris Brady struggled to impress. Freese, the starter at the 2026 World Cup, played just 45 minutes against Peru and did not feature again. Brady conceded a goal due to two poor clearances in his half against Chile, leading to his substitution at halftime and no further appearances in the window.
At center back, Miles Robinson saw limited action, playing 63 shaky minutes against Chile. At 29, he faces competition from emerging defenders like George Campbell and Neil Pierre, who appear ready to step up.
Right back Frankie Westfield, despite a strong MLS season with Philadelphia Union, had a difficult introduction to international play. He started against Chile but struggled and did not feature against Mexico or Canada, falling behind Freeman, Sergiño Dest, and Joe Scally in the pecking order.
The window provided a clear indication that Pochettino is building toward a new USMNT era focused on youth and expanded options. With 13 debutants and strong performances from players like Reyna, Freeman, Sullivan, and Hall, the team’s next competitive matches will reveal how this fresh foundation holds up. The roster’s evolution continues ahead of the Nations League quarterfinal against Haiti.
According to Yahoo Sports.
