The United States men's national soccer team is entering a new phase of rebuilding under head coach Mauricio Pochettino as it sets its sights on the 2030 World Cup. Following a disappointing round-of-16 exit at the 2022 World Cup—where the U.S. was eliminated by Belgium for the fourth consecutive tournament—the team is navigating a transition aimed at blending experienced players with emerging talent.

Pochettino, who took over the team about 20 months before the last World Cup, faced limited time to assemble a competitive roster for the tournament. Over that period, he capped 62 players but did not have the opportunity to extensively explore the country’s talent pool. With nearly four years now available before the next World Cup, the coach is adopting a broader approach that reflects both continuity and renewal.

For the first training camp of the new four-year cycle, Pochettino called up a 28-man roster featuring 13 holdovers from the 2022 World Cup squad alongside 12 players making their senior national team debuts. The average age of this group is roughly 22 years and 9 months, more than four years younger than the roster that competed in Qatar.

“After the World Cup, we start to change and to see and to analyze all the players,” Pochettino said, describing the camp as a “fresh start” with different objectives. The goal is to integrate new players who can contribute over the coming years and build a foundation for future success.

Notably absent from the camp are veterans such as Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, Weston McKennie, and Tim Weah. Pulisic came off a disappointing World Cup and others have struggled with injuries during their club seasons. Meanwhile, eight teenagers have been included in the squad, among them 16-year-old Philadelphia Union forward Cavan Sullivan, who has recorded seven goals and 12 assists in 24 Major League Soccer appearances this season.

Alongside the young newcomers, the roster includes seasoned players like Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams, and Sergiño Dest, each with World Cup experience and over 200 combined caps. Pochettino emphasized the importance of balancing veteran leadership with youthful energy to shape team culture and performance.

The training camp, which began on Sunday at the U.S. Soccer Training Center near Atlanta, will feature matches against Peru and Chile in September, followed by games against Mexico and Canada in October. The camp also serves as a platform for identifying potential contributors to the 2028 Olympics squad, a tournament restricted to players aged 23 and under.

While the strategy reflects an intentional shift toward youth development, the ultimate test will be whether this blend of experienced players and emerging talent can elevate the U.S. team’s competitiveness at the highest level in the years ahead.