It is difficult to fight the post-World Cup lull; the quick transition out of sports' most anticipated event is hard to avoid. The U.S. men's national team have managed to buck the trend at the start of a new four-year cycle, though, thanks to the introduction of a baker's dozen of fresh faces eager to make their opportunities count with the 2030 World Cup in mind. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino embarked on his most future-focused player pool expansion project yet, mixing a group of newcomers with an average age of 19 years old with several World Cup participants as he oversees a generational shift.
The results have spoken for themselves so far – the USMNT went four for four in their fall friendlies, a selection of young players impressing nearly every step of the way as the likes of Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada threw different challenges at them. The head coach has been effusive with his praise of the newcomers for being eager to learn and showcase their talents, while also showering his veterans with compliments for their welcoming nature. He has refused to single players out, especially the first-timers, championing the collective at this early juncture of the cycle.
Take, for example, his response to a question about Cavan Sullivan after the 17-year-old scored his first international goal in a 3-0 win over Mexico on Saturday. He complimented Sullivan – and the rest of the group "like Mathis [Albert], like Justin [Ellis], like Julian [Hall], like Frankie [Westfield], like Neil [Pierre], like Brooklyn [Raines], like Adri [Mehmeti], like Peyton [Miller], like Cole [Campbell] … [Did] I miss some young [players]? Gozo, Zavier Gozo." Even as Pochettino retained a focus on the group from start to finish this fall, some inevitably rose above the rest.
The head coach has held his cards close to his chest in a variety of ways over the course of the four-game swing, only hinting at the squad turnover that awaits over the next four years. The goalkeeper situation, for example, is something to keep an eye on – Diego Kochen and Brian Schwake played 135 minutes each, more than the other two shot-stoppers in camp who just so happened to be on this year's World Cup roster, Matt Freese and Chris Brady. To say that is a clear indication of Pochettino's plans for the future would be a bridge too far but even as he cloaks his answers, some appear more obvious than others.
Much will be revealed with his roster for November's Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals against Haiti, for which Pochettino is expected to call in a full-strength version of the team. What exactly that looks like right now, though, is the big question – and a few of the USMNT's newcomers might be ready to answer it. The winner of the window is unquestionably Julian Hall, who scored three goals and notched one assist in his first four caps and earned more playing time than his fellow newcomers with 52.25 average minutes per game.
Hall snapped a 12-game goalless run just in time for his first reps with the senior national team and has been on a roll ever since, his natural striker's instincts ensuring he would score against Chile and Mexico despite uneven team performances and his own room for improvement. The 18-year-old could still be a lot quicker when it comes to making decisions and can go under the radar in games but those feel like teachable skills for a player who is still in the very early stages of his career. He seems to have Pochettino's admiration, even if the coach will not come out and say it just yet.
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