USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino has submitted his 60-player preliminary roster to CONCACAF for the 2025 Gold Cup. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta provides his observations on the large listing
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
Might 19, 2025
7:30 PM
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ON MONDAY MORNING, Concacaf launched the preliminary rosters for the upcoming Gold Cup event. Every staff listed 60 gamers for the preliminary roster and the ultimate 26-player roster will derive from the preliminary listing.
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino didn’t have many surprises on his 60-player roster because it encompasses largely of gamers who he has labored with in October, November, January, and March. There are some new faces, however total, that is regular.
That doesn’t imply that the ultimate roster received’t see a variety of modifications. The USMNT is coming off a horrible displaying on the Nations League in March the place it misplaced each of its video games – to Panama after which Canada – to complete fourth among the many closing 4. Which may necessitate modifications and Pochettino’s want to take a look at new gamers.
With that mentioned, right here is the roster together with a couple of ideas on it.
USMNT Gold Cup Preliminary Roster
Goalkeepers: Matt Turner, Zack Steffen, Patrick Schulte, Chris Brady, Matt Freese, Diego Kochen
Defenders: Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson, Walker Zimmerman, Sergino Dest, Miles Robinson, Chris Richards, Joe Scally, Shaq Moore, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Mark McKenzie, DeJuan Jones, Kristoffer Lund, John Tolkin, Auston Trusty, Max Arfsten, Caleb Wiley, Marlon Fossey, George Campbell, Tristan Blackmon, Alex Freeman, Nathan Harriel
Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson, Yunus Musah, Tyler Adams, Luca De La Torre, Johnny Cardoso, Gianluca Busio, Malik Tillman, Djordje Mihailovic, Aidan Morris, Tanner Tessmann, Diego Luna, Jack McGlynn, Caden Clark, Eneka Eneli, Brian Gutierrez, Matko Miljevic, Paxten Aaronson, Richie Ledezma, Timothy Tillman, Sean Zawadzki, Sebastian Berhalter, Maximilian Dietz, Quinn Sullivan.
Forwards: Christian Pulisic, Josh Sargent, Folarin Balogun, Haji Wright, Brandon Vazquez, Alex Zendejas, Patrick Agyemang, Brian White, Damion Downs, Griffin Yow
Word: Tim Weah, Weston McKennie, and Gio Reyna are on golf equipment collaborating within the Membership World Cup. These golf equipment will not be required to launch gamers.
Just like Nations League preliminary roster
There may be solely a 12 participant distinction between the 60-man preliminary Nations League roster and this 60-man preliminary Gold Cup roster. That features McKennie, Reyna, and Weah.
However there are legitimate causes for the opposite 9 gamers.
Drake Callender misplaced his beginning job for Inter Miami. Jackson Ragen is injured and hasn’t performed since April 12. Ethan Horvath had a troublesome season and his Cardiff Metropolis staff was relegated out of the second-tier Championship. Indiana Vassilev has solely began seven of Philadelphia’s 14 video games. Jesus Ferreira has no targets in 13 video games (and 811 minutes) for Seattle this season. Noahkai Banks and Cole Campbell are younger and have solely seen restricted first-team minutes in latest months (Campbell has been injured). Benjamin Cremaschi will even doubtless be with the U.S. U-20 staff as an alternative in June. Cade Cowell has additionally not performed in over a month.
Newcomers are in-form
When it comes to the gamers who’re on this roster however weren’t a part of the Nations League provisional roster, include both high gamers who have been injured in March or gamers who’re in crimson scorching type.
Sergino Dest, Haji Wright, Malik Tillman, and Folarin Balogun weren’t on the Nations League preliminary roster because of accidents however all have spent important time with the USMNT with Dest and Wright having performed on the World Cup.
Different newcomers are gamers in excellent type. Sebastian Berhalter is likely one of the most attention-grabbing as a result of, because the son of Pochettino’s predecessor, he has additionally been a driving pressure behind Vancouver’s rise to the highest of the Western Convention desk and run to the Champions League closing. The identical is true for Tristan Blackmon.
Quinn Sullivan has put up good numbers constantly for a few seasons for a Philadelphia staff that’s now among the many higher groups within the Japanese Convention. Sean Zawadzki has been excellent for a Columbus staff that has been among the many greatest within the league for a number of seasons. Richie Ledezma now boasts Champions League expertise and has received an Eredivisie title. Caleb Wiley performed effectively down the stretch for Watford.
One of many boldest picks was Alex Freeman. The younger Orlando Metropolis proper again is in his first season as first-team starter and appears to be one of many high younger American gamers in MLS. Chris Brady additionally acquired a nod as a promising younger goalkeeper.
The inclusion of Kristoffer Lund on this roster after being left off the Nations League preliminary roster is puzzling as a result of his case to be included now’s weaker than it was on the time of the Nations League. Different gamers like John Tolkin and Caleb Wiley look extra prone to be chosen and Lund was solely an occasional starter for Palermo (he didn’t begin the staff’s playoff recreation).
However total, I like the thought of Pochettino utilizing preliminary roster spots for gamers who’re in good type. Even when these gamers will not be chosen to the ultimate roster, having them on this roster reveals they’re being watched. If a participant is doing effectively for his membership and isn’t chosen, it’s dispiriting for different gamers who’re making an attempt to push to be on the Nation’s League roster.
— Backheeled (@Backheeled) Might 15, 2025
It sends a fantastic message to all gamers to have Berhalter, Sullivan, Blackmon, Freeman, Ledezma, and Wiley on this roster. The pathway to getting seen by the USMNT supervisor is to play effectively. It’s so simple as that.
Surprises in retailer for closing roster?
After the fourth place end on the Nations League mixed with a poor Copa America displaying in 2024 beneath Gregg Berhalter, only a few gamers ought to really feel as if their USMNT spot is protected.
When Pochettino was employed, he didn’t make many modifications to the rosters Berhalter and the interim September workers have been utilizing. The outcomes have been combined to poor within the fall. Now after the March Nations League disappointment, he would possibly really feel he actually must dig extra.
Some gamers like Tanner Tessmann, Diego Luna, Jack McGlynn, Brian White, and Patrick Agyemang have taken on larger roles however Pochettino would possibly assume much more appears are needed – particularly since gamers like Luna have been useful.
However when you’re in search of potential surprises on the ultimate roster, have a look at gamers who’re 1) are fierce opponents, 2) are merely taking part in effectively proper now, and three) handle a necessity on the staff.
When contemplating that, some gamers who doubtless have a very good probability are John Tolkin as he’s taking part in effectively regardless of his membership’s relegation, he’s a very good competitor, and there’s a want for an additional left-footed left again after Robinson. Wiley is an possibility, however Tolkin has been higher for an extended interval.
Matko Miljevic is another choice given his aggressive character (that has gotten him into bother a number of occasions in his previous) and his good type in Argentina proper now. There are attacking spots on the staff up for grabs with McKennie, Reyna, and Weah all out.
Paxten Aaronson additionally looks like a very good guess given his lengthy USYNT involvement and his excellent efficiency within the Eredivisie. Aaronson’s former Philadelphia Union teammate Quinn Sullivan
Brenden Aaronson was a giant omission from the ultimate Nations League roster, however he had a very good season and performs exhausting. He was helped quite a bit by not being a part of the mess in March.
When it comes to extra identified gamers who may be in peril of not making the ultimate roster, Josh Sargent is one to regulate. Regardless of being named to the Champions League staff of the season, he has not scored for the nationwide staff since 2019. Yunus Musah will most likely make the Gold Cup roster, however his type in 2025 has dropped fairly a bit.
It can even be attention-grabbing to see who Pochettino selects in central protection. Chris Richards is clearly taking part in effectively, however a lot of the different central defenders within the pool haven’t been in good type or have been injured.
Total, there will likely be loads of common faces on the Gold Cup roster however there will likely be a variety of new faces. The Gold Cup roster is 26 gamers in contrast with 23 for the Nations League. Plus McKennie, Reyna, and Weah received’t be there. That alone ensures that there have to be a minimum of six gamers on the Gold Cup staff who weren’t on the Nations League staff. There’s a excessive diploma of chance that Max Arfsten and Marlon Fossey received’t make the Gold Cup staff because of the return of normal starters. That will make an eight participant change from the Nations League.
In complete, Pochettino will doubtless have a Gold Cup roster that has 10+ gamers who weren’t a part of the Nations League staff. That’s a variety of change each when it comes to tradition and skillsets – which is an effective factor.
