USMNT squad: Mauricio Pochettino calls in 27 for friendlies against Portugal and Belgium | USA

United States men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino has named a 27-player roster for the team’s final camp before determining his final squad for this summer’s World Cup.

The group will play two high-profile friendlies in Atlanta during the upcoming international window, with the United States taking on Belgium on Saturday, March 28 (3:30 p.m. ET) and Portugal on Tuesday, March 31 (7 p.m. ET).

Pochettino’s squad is close to a first-choice selection, with the notable exception of midfielder Tyler Adams, who missed Bournemouth’s goalless draw with Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday. Adams had recently completed his return from a torn MCL and had started Bournemouth’s previous three matches.

Real Salt Lake midfielder Diego Luna, who moved into a regular role with the United States last year, was also absent. Luna only recently played his first minutes of the year, replacing RSL in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Austin FC. Luna had been out with a knee injury to start the MLS season.

Here is the full squad to face Belgium and Portugal:

Goalkeepers

Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Matt Turner (New England Revolution)

The 100% MLS group includes a quartet of Pochettino regulars. Freese has started most of the games under the Argentine, with 2022 World Cup starter Turner now the most likely replacement. Brady and Celentano are most likely battling it out to become the third goalie in this summer’s tournament.

Defenders

Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Alex Freeman (Villareal), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach), Auston Trusty (Celtic)

The recent hamstring injury to right back Sergiño Dest changes the calculus of this group, with Scally and Freeman the natural choices to replace Dest in a starting XI. The United States began to see success towards the end of 2025 after opting for three central defenders, with Richards being a locked-in starter. Ream is a regular selection alongside Richards, but the 38-year-old has had a poor start to the MLS season. McKenzie, Miles Robinson and Trusty will compete for the other places, with Freeman and Scally able to operate in central defense if necessary.

midfielder

Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Johnny Cardoso (Atlético Madrid), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough), Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), Tanner Tessmann (Olympique de Lyon), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen)

Adams’ absence opens up an opportunity for a number of other options in central midfield. Morris joined the team for the final two international windows of 2025 and impressed in a 5-1 win over Uruguay. He carried this form to club level where he became a key figure in Middlesbrough’s efforts for promotion from the Championship. Cardoso has seen his minutes increase and form improve with Atlético Madrid, while Tessmann has been getting consistent minutes with Lyon.

Reyna returns to the team after impressing in the final international window of 2025, scoring a goal in a win over Paraguay and grabbing an assist in the 5-1 win over Uruguay. However, the playmaker has only been on the pitch for 28 minutes in 2026 with Borussia Mönchengladbach, without an appearance of any kind since January due in part to injury concerns.

Attackers

Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Patrick Agyemang (Derby County), Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (Milan), Tim Weah (Olympique de Marseille)

Haji Wright left the Coventry City game at the weekend with a groin injury, making the striker a three-man squad of Agyemang, Balogun and Pepi, who only recently returned from a broken arm. Pulisic’s recent form with Milan has not matched his red-hot start to the season, but he remains the focal point of this group and it is likely his play will be vital for the United States in this window and at the World Cup.