Mauricio Pochettino has selected his first roster as USMNT coach, recalling former Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen after he was dropped by predecessor Gregg Berhalter.
The squad is headlined by star player Christian Pulisic, who is in red-hot form for AC Milan having scored five goals and provided two assists so far this season.
Midfielder Gianluca Busio is the other notable addition to the 25-man squad for upcoming friendlies against Panama and Mexico.
Defenders Antonee Robinson and Miles Robinson and midfielder Weston McKennie were also included after being given the September games off to remain with their clubs.
Goalkeeper Diego Kochen and defender Caleb Wiley were dropped.
Mauricio Pochettino has selected his first roster as USMNT coach for October’s matches
Zack Steffen hasn’t played for the national team since World Cup qualifiers in March 2022
Injured players who will miss the matches include defenders Sergino Dest, Chris Richards and Cameron Carter-Vickers, and midfielder Tyler Adams.
Pochettino, the former Tottenham and Chelsea boss, was hired on Septempber 10.
He is the 10th USMNT coach in 14 years and also the first foreign-born leader since Jurgen Klinsmann.
Steffen, Matt Turner, Ethan Horvath and Patrick Schulte are the goalkeepers on the roster.
Steffen started six of 14 World Cup qualifiers, with Turner in goal for the other eight.
He was surprisingly omitted from the 2022 World Cup roster and hasn’t played for the national team since the final qualifiers in March 2022, though he was on the bench for CONCACAF Nations League matches in March 2023.
The squad is headlined by star player Christian Pulisic, who is in red-hot form for AC Milan
Steffen has 29 international appearances and started all 31 Major League Soccer games for Colorado this season after playing in just two Premier League matches over four-and-a-half seasons with Manchester City.
Turner lost his starting job at Nottingham Forest last season, was loaned to Crystal Palace in August and has not played this season. Ethan Horvath has not played for Cardiff since August 31.
Schulte started last month against Canada and Turner against New Zealand under interim coach Mikey Varas. Steffen and Turner are among four MLS players on the roster.
Busio, 22, helped Venezia gain promotion to Serie A this season and played for Team USA at the Paris Olympics.