United States men’s national soccer team head coach Mauricio Pochettino is preparing to convene his squad for an upcoming training camp as the team gears up for a series of friendly matches this fall and begins the early stages of qualification for the 2030 World Cup.
Following a mixed 2026 World Cup campaign hosted on home soil, which ended in a disappointing 4-1 round of 16 loss to Belgium, Pochettino aims to minimize internal disruptions and maintain stability within the team. The U.S. effort at the tournament was marked by both promise and controversy, including Folarin Balogun’s red card in the round of 32 and the subsequent decision to lift his suspension, allowing him to participate in the defeat to Belgium.
Looking ahead, Pochettino is eyeing a developmental approach centered around a promising group of young talent. Several teenagers are anticipated to play a more prominent role over the next four years, including 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan of the Philadelphia Union and 17-year-old Adri Mehmeti of the New York Red Bulls. Other emerging players such as Julian Hall, Neil Pierre, Justin Ellis, and Zavier Gozo—now with Crystal Palace in England—have also attracted attention.
“We are very happy to have all these potential good players,” Pochettino said, stressing the importance of managing expectations for young athletes. “When you are young, of course, you need to be confident... but there is a limit. The balance is the most important, and one of our responsibilities is to protect these guys because sometimes if you play well and you are 17, 16 or 18, people start to talk about you as (Lionel) Messi or a big star in the world because you do a few good things. If you don’t manage it well, that can be dangerous for your career.”
The head coach emphasized his desire for players to focus on their performances rather than external hype.
Pochettino’s roster for the forthcoming camp, set for later this month, will be announced around September 17. The team will prepare for four friendlies: against Peru on September 26 in Orlando; Chile on September 29 in St. Louis; Mexico on October 3 in Glendale; and Canada on October 6 in St. Paul. It remains unclear how many of the young prospects will be included, or whether established figures such as Balogun, Christian Pulisic, and Weston McKennie will join the squad. Balogun’s future continues to be the subject of transfer speculation after anticipated moves from Monaco failed to materialize.
Following these friendlies, the U.S. will turn its attention to the 2027 Concacaf Gold Cup, which serves as a key milestone as the team moves closer to the World Cup qualifying campaign for 2030.