Mauricio Pochettino facing big decisions with USMNT

Just weeks after being officially announced as the new head coach of the United States national soccer team, Mauricio Pochettino is ready to announce his first roster for the USMNT, with the FIFA international friendlies in October just around the corner.

The Argentine coach will make his debut on the bench with the US on Saturday, October 12, facing Panama, a team with which the Stars and Stripes have some unfinished business, especially after the events of the last Copa América.

After Panama, Mexico for Pochettino and the USMNT

Following this, Pochettino and his players will leave the United States to travel to Mexico, where they will face the Tricolor in Guadalajara, at Estadio Akron. The venue promises to be packed to capacity with an utterly hostile atmosphere welcoming Team USA.

As part of the preparation for these FIFA international friendlies, Mauricio Pochettino already has in mind the players who will make up his first official roster, which will be officially announced this Wednesday.

The Argentine coach is aiming to establish a competitive core for this team, and while no major surprises are expected, with Pochettino at the helm, it’s likely we’ll see some new faces or significant returns to the USMNT squad.

Key absences for Pochettino in his first USMNT roster

With the roster already clear and just awaiting official confirmation from US Soccer, it is expected that Mauricio Pochettino’s first call-up will be missing some key players.

Injuries to several players who are part of the backbone of this team, including Sergiño Dest, Tim Weah, and Chris Richards, as well as possibly Gio Reyna, are likely to be among the notable absentees in Pochettino’s first list.

Therefore, in Wednesday’s announcement, we will likely see some different names replacing these players who, due to injury, will be unlikely to be part of the Argentine coach’s first call-up.