USMNT roster: Christian Pulisic in, Weston McKennie out as USA soccer nears Mauricio Pochettino hire

A youthful version of the U.S. men's national team will return to play for friendlies against Canada and New Zealand this month as they begin to put the disappointment of this summer's Copa America behind them.

Experienced players like Christian Pulisic and Tim Ream lead the group but will be mixed in alongside newcomers like Standard Liege defender Marlon Fossey and Barcelona reserve goalkeeper Diego Kochen. Winger Timothy Weah and midfielders Tyler Adams and Gianluca Busio will miss this camp with injuries, while U-20 coach Mikey Varas will serve as the interim head coach for these two camps.

This month's friendlies mark the USMNT's return to play since their group stage exit from the Copa America, a surprise early exit considering the team eyed a statement-making turn as they prepared for the 2026 World Cup on home soil. The poor showing forced U.S. Soccer to fire Gregg Berhalter in July, with the federation reportedly landing on Mauricio Pochettino as his successor. The former Premier League manager reportedly agreed to take the job last month but a deal has yet to be finalized.

Here's a look at the September roster in full.

USMNT September roster

• GOALKEEPERS (4): Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City/WAL), Diego Kochen (FC Barcelona II), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace/ENG)
• DEFENDERS (8): Auston Trusty (Celtic/SCO), Marlon Fossey (Standard Liege/BEL), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo/ITA), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/FRA), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER), Caleb Wiley (Strasbourg/FRA)
• MIDFIELDERS (6): Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis/ESP), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/ESP), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough/ENG), Yunus Musah (AC Milan), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/NED)
• FORWARDS (6): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/ENG), Folarin Balogun (Monaco/FRA), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/NED), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA), Josh Sargent (Norwich City/ENG), Haji Wright (Coventry City/ENG)
  

Just 18 members of the USMNT's Copa America roster made the cut, though it is a temporary situation for many. Cameron Carter-Vickers, like Weah and Adams, is injured, while Antonee Robinson is earning rest and Weston McKennie is being given time to re-acclimate into his club setting. The MLS-based trio of Miles Robinson, Shaq Moore and Sean Johnson were at the Copa America but will not be part of this camp.

Goalkeeper Patrick Schulte and defender Caleb Wiley earn promotions to the senior team after comPeting for the U.S. at the Paris Olympics, where they reached the quarterfinals. The pair freshen up the roster, as do the likes of Auston Trusty, Fossey and Kochen, all of whom have experience at the youth levels but have limited exposure to the senior national team environment.

The USMNT will first play Canada on Sept. 7 at Kansas City's Children's Mercy Park and will close out this international break on Sept. 10 against New Zealand at Nashville's Geodis Park.