The CONCACAF Nations League semifinals are right around the corner, and we now have a clearer picture of what that the U.S. men’s national team roster could look like.
The preliminary rosters for the CNL Final Four squads were revealed on Monday and the USMNT roster features many of the top players in the pool, including Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Gio Reyna.
Joe Scally, Johnny Cardoso, Yunus Musah, and Brenden Aaronson were also among the expected names included. High-flying forward Josh Sargent is also named as he aims to make the No. 9 job his.
Young players such as Damion Downs and Noahkai Banks have also been named despite not yet making their senior USMNT debuts. Downs has excelled in the German second-tier with Cologne FC while Banks has been part of Augsburg’s first team in the Bundesliga.
Among the names not included were Haji Wright, Folarin Balogun, Sergino Dest, Malik Tillman, and Ricardo Pepi, who are all currently sidelined or not yet back to full fitness.
PSV right back Richie Ledezma was a surprising exclusion by Mauricio Pochettino despite Ledezma’s continued starting role in the Eredivisie.
Pochettino will still have plenty of key decisions to make in order to trim the final roster down to 23 players by March 10.
The USMNT faces Panama in the Nations League semifinals on March 20 in Inglewood, California with the winner facing the winner of the Mexico-Canada semifinal on March 23 in the final.
The Americans clinched their semifinal spot in November after defeating Trinidad & Tobago 4-2 on aggregate over two legs. Several players excelled during the November window including Antonee Robinson, Gio Reyna, and Pepi.
Here is the 60-man preliminary USMNT roster for the CONCACAF Nations League Final Four:
Preliminary USMNT Nations League roster
GOALKEEPERS: Drake Callender, Matt Freese, Ethan Horvath, Diego Kochen, Patrick Schulte, Zack Steffen, Matt Turner.
DEFENDERS: Noahkai Banks, George Campbell, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Marlon Fossey, Nathan Harriel, Dejuan Jones, Mark McKenzie, Shaq Moore, Jackson Ragen, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Miles Robinson, Joe Scally, John Tolkin, Auston Trusty, Walker Zimmerman.
MIDFIELDERS: Paxten Aaronson, Brenden Aaronson, Tyler Adams, Max Arfsten, Gianluca Busio, Johnny Cardoso, Caden Clark, Luca De La Torre, Maximilian Dietz, Emeka Eneli, Diego Luna, Jack McGlynn, Weston McKennie, Djordje Mihailovic, Matko Miljevic, Aidan Morris, Yunus Musah, Tanner Tessmann, Timothy Tillman, Indiana Vassilev.
FORWARDS: Patrick Agyemang, Cole Campbell, Cade Cowell, Ben Cremaschi, Damion Downs, Jesus Ferreira, Brian Gutierrez, Jordan Morris, Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Josh Sargent, Brandon Vazquez, Tim Weah, Brian White, Griffin Yow, Alex Zendejas.
What do you think of the roster? Who are you happy to see included? Who are you disappointed to see miss the preliminary round cut?
Share your thoughts below.
Seriously? Am I the only one calling out the comment about the victories over TRINIDAD & TOBAGO to get to the semi-finals? T&T hasn’t been relevant in the last 6 years!
I remember them beating Jamaica in a home and away to make it to the Nation’s League Semi Finals…..
Juventus lost to Empoli in Italian Cup today and PSV lost to Go Ahead Eagles so maybe we shouldn’t read too much into PSV’s quality because they beat Juve.
would RBS ever take BA back? that’s the last time he was playing well for club and country. based on his fall caps his c’ship production is a sargent-style second division mirage — though good for him to be settled for a change.
it’s also worth noting that BA’s initial emergence was lucky. he was cut from his U20 but found favor with GB’s stats-obsessed regime, effectively leapfrogging better players by being first team when they were european B teamers. you have 3-4 age group classes maturing in plus campbell coming up. the window where CP was hurt and the young players were just emerging is over. you have to actually outplay people now. he’s picked a lousy time to go dry for the nats.
i think he needs to be considered because for a period of time he was a productive rotational LF, and unlike some options he’s actually done something in games. but he has to start doing things with caps. his club situation is no longer an excuse.
BA was excellent with RBS because it’s the only good team in Austria. I’m a fan of his hustle and commitment to press and win the ball back, but always believed he was over-hyped: calling him “Medford Messi” was insipid, and he’s clearly not Premier League or Bundesliga quality. Even in The Championship he struggles against the other top six clubs.
I’d be curious how many times per game he gets knocked off the ball and then throws his hands up at the ref. It’s almost like he’s trying too hard to take people on and make something happen. He might be better off in France or Holland with a coach who can work with him to calm down when he has the ball.
One of my (many) beefs with Beerholder was how quickly and often the USMNT gave away possession and I found BA to be one of the chief culprits.
Completely understand not seeing Ledezma as a RB in the current scheme of things.
That said, all this is is a 60-man preliminary roster, put his name on it over the likes of IDK, about 10 other guys who will never see a call-up outside of January again. Seems like simple due diligence, no?
Just noticed Jordan Morris is on here…lol…that’s one named Ledezma could have been put on ahead of.
Nah. Poch already stated if you are on the fence about repping USA you won’t be on any roster prelim or otherwise.
Why would you put a RB over a striker? Considering striker is needed? Last I looked Morris is still scoring goals.
that’s not cool to morris. through about 2021 when GB finally started integrating weah and reyna, who struggled for years to break into good teams, it was the pulisic and morris show and what tournament results we got were from those two (eg gold cup ’17). i think it’s he looks like a football player like kenny cooper and relied a lot on just afterburner action.
Say what you want, but Jordan Morris is a winner.
NCAA 2015
MLS CUP 2016
Gold CUP 2017
MLS CUP 2019
CONCACAF Champions League 2022
It’s good to have winners on your roster.
“Seems like simple due diligence, no?”
Well, Mexico commitment aside, do you think Richie is going to dramatically improve between now and March?
I can’t see it.
Because based on what I’ve seen from Richie, he’s done okay but not great. I don’t really understand why PSV keeps playing him at right back. Maybe they thought that Dest is an attacking midfielder masquerading as a right back so maybe Richie could learn to replicate what Sergino does. I don’t know that it has worked
out but so far PSV seem to be getting away with playing him there.
However the USMNT has a number of better alternatives than Richie to replace Sergino. And as a creative attacking midfielder Richie is underwater in terms of the USMNT pecking order. PSV lost Malik but did not move Richie into his slot which , you’d think, might make some sense. So they must know something.
This is all too bad because Richie has been one of my favorites for a long time but right now, he’s just not a good enough prospect anymore.
Karsdorp who they bought to play RB has been hurt on and off, plus hasn’t been that great either. I’m interested when Sergino gets back (allegedly in April) if he’ll play LB like he did last year or RB in place of Ledezma/Karsdorp.
Okay, I take back what I said. Tom Bogart claims Richie not called up because Poch views him as CM. (we are stacked in CM). They don’t view him as a RB, and rate other RB like Scally. Moore, and Fossey over him. So because of being left off, he is now looking at Mexico national team.
He also does not have a Mexican passport, so that’s why he is not on Mex roster for their preliminary roster.
From the interview I read it sounds more like he’s keeping his options open by getting the passport not that he’s decided anything. Poch was in Eindhoven last week to watch him and support Timo and Wes. One would assume they spoke, if he flew over there.
JR: if they watched him last week then cut him this week, dude, the eval being quoted is how they rate him now. how they saw that scouting visit.
that and i know he was hurt at a point but he’s been out of fashion a long time. like he got brought in right after covid. if the new coach isn’t taking the bait any better, it is what it is. you’re then either a loyal american content to sit on that single cap, or you’re a dual national who wants a shot at a world cup by any means necessary.
i don’t think he’s not a RB to anyone. but it’s to a dutch/barca type swashbuckling team. GB was more that way. poch to me looks like he’s gonna bet more on jedi and less on risking that right side, which ends up like a 3 back look on offense, which is less risky than both sides. and probably a more honest appraisal of the pool anyway.
i wish him luck but his deal is he had a shot in that reboot era when we didn’t have productive AMs beyond mckennie. couldn’t start for his club. now we are getting in guys with 10 league assists or several goals or hammer shooting. he’s not going to fare well in that contest. but neither is LDLT or a list.
to me at mid it’s gonna be you’re either the musah role, or a 10 or a 6. the old “8” to hide people is becoming a sliding wing role where you will still be expected to produce. the era of the guy who keeps the ball moving and plays some defense but isn’t really good either end is starting to end.
and i’m fine with it. it’s a goals game and unless you’re sitting on 3-0 up possession is overrated. i am from the no cheap giveaways in your own half “but take risks their end” school. chances over time of possession.
to be fair to the guy, i think he has some talent tablesetting — though perhaps more like a brad davis technical winger — but no one gave him the kind of shot luna is getting and producing in as a CAM. you’re not gonna make many NT as a rotational sub for NYC with replacement level productivity. even if in theory you have a precision passing leg.
IV: did you read my comment below agreeing with your assessment of Richy’s situation/status. Thanks for retyping your opinion again saying exactly what I agreed with you on 2 days ago. The problem with Richy is he’s not a “swashbuckler” RB he’s more Graham Zusi going to slowly move up field and send in 40 yard crosses, not at all like the runs up the line like Jedi or dribbling through 4 defenders like Dest. He’s perfect for DeJong, he doesn’t work so well as a FB for the US where he’d be protecting the back post as the CBs shifted to cover for Jedi moving up.
Ledezma’s a fair-to-decent player, and a guy I think would have been a shoe-in for earlier versions of the USMNT.
If he thinks he can get on the field for Mexico, it might be the way to go for him. Then again, El Tri has a long history of capping guys just to cap-tie them, and then never calling them again, so if I were Ledezma I’d be real careful about that commitment too.
Yep I agree quozzel. Jonthan Gonzalez comes to mind who was a flop for Mexico national team. I also saw Noah Allen from Inter Miami is eligible for Greece and is being called up to their u21. I was so high up on him and Noah Cobb from ATL.
Allen doesn’t really have a team to play for the US currently because he’s too old for U20s, not good enough yet for NT, and U23s haven’t started up yet for next Olympics. UEFA has a U21 division that will eventually qualify for the Olympics. I believe it’s just friendlies or scrimmages for them this window so Noah can test it out without cap tie consequences. He played in U20 qualifiers for US so he would have to file a one time switch for any official event with Greece.
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Cobb isn’t even starting in MLS he’ll be with the U20 camp most likely in March.
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JoGo kind of flopped himself though after his switch, lost his spot at Monterrey, mediocre loan to MLS, squad player now for Juarez. Not really El Tri’s fault his career fell off. Maybe more a sign of how much their MF development fell off that they were grasping for mid level Americans.
downs had been someone i had noticed before doing well in b.2 as a CF but he’d get caught in a numbers game, we have so many CF options and it’s a rare slot of pretty consistent quality. i still think he’s 5th or so string on this list, fair or not, behind the january guys, but good that he got noticed.
ditto i am pleased to see cole campbell and yow, who i think are actually more upside guys than cremaschi, clark, and cowell. though to be real they may suffer the same fate as downs. and in campbell’s case i am sure he’s better than the lot of them. and campbell specifically likely won’t be available for gold cup due to club world cup for dortmund.
i have been occasionally lobbing banks on suggestion lists. good to see him in the list. and i think CB is enough a mess he might make the roster.
i don’t like z and ream at CB, a lot of the keepers draw a huh response.
personally i like moore and fossey RB for actual defense. i would like to see us scout and call more pure defenders. it also might be worth trying weston or richards at RB.
i think poch sees LB as the more swashbuckling asymmetric position, and RB as the more stay home slot. ledezma, to me, as with many converted mids, is a faux wingback like dest. but he plays more right side. so his skill set doesn’t fit the scheme.
in terms of AM, poch, to me, has been pivoting more towards guys who are either productive offense or stoppers. i think we are less interested in mediocre two way types. i see several productive AMs and wings from the usual suspects or january camp. i see less LDLT unproductive mush.
i then think ledezma, while having some interesting technical chops, has not really produced from advanced spots yet. he struggled to get starting jobs and his career numbers are some players’ annual ones.
i think GB was the bigger fan of unproductive two way mush where guys like LDLT had a chance. or an unproven techncal prospect like ledezma. the guys we are calling now a lot are several goals or assists a season. or they are legit stoppers. i for one am glad we have pivoted this direction because i didn’t see the “nagbe” type era of tepid offense hit and miss defense as successful. you win games scoring or shutting down teams. the whole midfield can’t be water carriers for the front line, and empty bucket was more defensible when we had better stoppers so we could beat elite teams. i don’t think 1-1 type teams do much.
i thought lund was poor in the fall games and he’s a healthy omit from the longlist.
they also left off old man seanjohn, meh jalen neal.
a lot of attackers left off are hurt.
I actually agree with IV on Ledezma. He’s mistake prown defensively and doesn’t fit the RB tactics Poch has used the last two windows. Although I don’t think Wes fits that RB role either, Richards basically plays that for Palace in their 3 CB formation and would be fine.
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Nagbe never really was given a chance with the NT as a CM. Bruce shifted him out to a wide midfield role. When he won his 4 MLS Cups, 1 Leagues Cup, and 1 Campeones Cup, and was runner up in Concacaf Champions League he had an attacking MF to shuttle the ball to; Valeri in Portland, Almiron in ATL, Cucho and Zelarayan in Columbus. He also usually was next to a big tackler. In his prime Darlington was a more ball secure Musah. Like Musah in his youth managers couldn’t figure out how to use him because he didn’t score or assist much but also wasn’t a big tackler so he’d get pushed wide because he was too good to sit but didn’t have a great MF position. Put Musah next to Adams with Reyna or Pulisic in front and he’ll be a problem for defenses. It just took managers too long to figure that out for Nagbe and he had decided time with his kids was more important than NT duty by then. I didn’t get Nagbe until he came to The Crew and watched him week in week out, but he needs specific conditions around him. He’d also be better if his prime was today because he’d dribble thru the high presses of today’s game even though it’s only 6 years later.
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Fossey is an offensive minded FB you just haven’t seen much of him. Your one look was against New Zealand who aren’t known for being dangerous in attack. Usually plays WB in a 3-5-2. He’s not exactly Arfsten, but he’s in line with like a Bryan Reynolds or Hansen. I think the last time he’s played as a RB in a back 4 is at Shrewsbury in 2020.
i remember fossey from YNT, as well as the caps, and he has some natural defensive chops. i felt like he got caught in a numbers game at FFC and finally found a home.
to me a guy who gets marking and can defend if asked to, but may be encouraged to take risks (jedi) is different than someone who just seems to not get marking, can rarely effectively defend, and is out there to offer added offense at added risk (dest). you can instruct the former to sit back some situations or games, and expect competence or excellence. which means they can be used in varied tactics.
to me GB went too much with the latter, didn’t get production, but did ship goals. you have to watch how the risk nets out +/-.
dest still isn’t back yet, i’d like to see him tried as an attacker if he recovers ok. he has a few attacking skills, can take people on, can cross sometimes, can beat people for speed, can shoot. but has like bad HS JV defensive sense, dives in.
You remember Fossey’s defensive prowess from 2017 Concacaf Championships? I’m not even sure how many of those were even broadcast. Not to mention Haiti, St Kitts, and El Salvador might not have been much of a test. A torn ACL kept him out of the 2017 U20 WC Trusty replaced him. He was recovering for most of the next four years with several reinjuries and another torn meniscus. Fulham securing themselves in EPL, talent leveled him out of their plans. Fossey is fine, he’s shown great resilience, but he’s not any better defender than Dest or Jedi. You’ve seen those two get beaten by world class attackers in the WC, EPL, and La Liga. Yep a lot of defenders do. You saw Fossey against some Caribbean teenagers when the US had 65% possession and you’ve locked him in, look he did well against a guy who barely plays for a bottom level team in the Eredivisie in his one cap there’s my proof. Do you realize how silly that sounds.
Just watched Leeds, and for the second came in a row, BA contributed nothing. No one can question his effort, but tnewspaper reviews are brutal. Time to give someone else a chance.
That “someone” is probably Diego Luna. He absolutely made the most of his opportunity this past camp and we still don’t have anyone who’s remotely nailed down the 10 spot. Certainly Aaronson hasn’t.
I personally really like Brendan Aaronson. If I had an MLS-level or Championship-level or even Ligue 1-level team, he’d be one of the first guys I’d try to sign. He’s coachable, versatile, has a set of iron lungs and can run until doomsday, will work tirelessly for the team, and plays wherever you put him without complaint. I do think there’s potentially room for him on the World Cup roster…in a 26-man roster. You can play him as an 8, a 10, on either wing, even a false 9 in a pinch. To me that’s a real strong candidate for one of those extra three spots FIFA’s been allowing for big tournaments – for those three extra spots, I’d bring an third #9, a 5/6 tweener who can play as a CB or as a 6, and somebody exactly like Aaronson who can play anywhere across the front. (Aaronson’s main competition for that spot in our pool, IMHO, is Jesus Ferreira.) But in a 23-man roster, is he one of our top two at any position anymore?
Personally, I think Luna may turn out to be the second coming of Reyna–Claudio Reyna. I see him having the potential to be a great playmaking MF. I like Eneli’s potential, too.
GP: i like eneli for dogged stereotypical 6 play and i think we’re still shopping the role behind/spelling adams — who isn’t at this one either. i think GB was finessing 6 skills with the deep lying passer ideas — when we didn’t have a pirlo and still don’t. i think poch wants ballwinners who can then send it forward. which eneli handled in a B type camp.
tessman would be another. we will now see how they handle A Team action.
IV: Adams is on the list
I didn’t see today’s match but I think BA is exhausted. He’s played all 34 league matches and started all but the first two. Only Rodon, Bogle, and the GK Meslier have played more minutes. He’s got 400 more minutes than the next closest attacker. That was why I actually thought that the Luna to Leeds rumors made sense as a backup for BA. Leeds seemed to be in a money saving mode though and didn’t make any Winter moves.
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He only played 21 minutes in November and that was without Reyna or Adams available. So I’m not sure how much Poch would use him. When you’re battling Pulisic, Weah, Musah, Reyna, and McKennie for minutes you’re going to struggle for time.
Could be exhaustion. When I watch him, I feel like he’s trying too hard. He’s constantly taking people on, getting knocked off the ball, and then complaining to the ref. It’s exasperating. The USMNT were terrible at maintaining possession during the Beerholder years and BA contributed to that.
The guy is the third leading goalscorer on a team that is in very good position for automatic promotion to the EPL. Maybe he is fatigued and has not looked that good the last couple of games, but he’s having a pretty good season overall. The fact that he’s played all those minutes means that the coach really likes him.
On the national team, however, he may have hit his ceiling, and may be in danger of getting passed by younger players. He’s 24, so I’m not sure he’s going to get a whole lot better. What he is now is what he is going to be. He’s not good enough to push out the guys who are currently ahead of him, and guys like Luna, Tillman, Paxten and even Zendejas may end leapfrogging him.
It’s hard not to like him, he works harder than anyone and will play anywhere. Seems like a good guy. I wish he would stay on his feet a little more, though.
Johnny99: if you look at who BA scores against, it’s the bottom teams of the Championship. The games I’ve watched him play against Burnley, Sunderland, and Sheffield United he was decidedly below average.
These days, I don’t get too excited about promotion to the Premier League: just look at last year’s promoted teams and how out-classed they have been. Assuming Leeds get promoted, they will bring in an upgrade over BA. I feel for him because he can out-hustle almost anyone, but he was the victim of too much hype. “Medford Messi” was a terrible comparison. He was never ready to go from the best team in Austria – with only one good team – to the Premier League. His future lies in France or Holland.
DC Josh: no one actually thought he was anywhere near Messi talent. Are you a United fan with some Philly bias. It was a nickname capitalizing on alliteration. He wasn’t predicted to be the best player in the world, they were saying he was the best player in Medford (which might actually be Paxten).
I’m somewhat pro-Aronson since I think he has shown to be good in tight spaces. One of the things I find interesting is several times here people have said that BA gets knocked off the ball too easily then just waves his arms as play goes on. To me, that describes Pulisic to a tee until recently when he has given up the arm waving. He still gets knocked off the ball too easily.
If it’s true Ledesma is not committed to the US, then ok. But otherwise it’s a snub. If the World Cup were tomorrow, Ledesma would be my backup rightback behind Scally. We want Weah higher up the field and Dest is uncertain at this point. I know Ledesma’s a converted midfielder, but the guy is a starting fullback for a Champions League knockout team.
Thanks for that jb I can’t believe Ledezma not committed. Complete let down on why, he is acting like Tim Chandler 🤦♂️. Glad we will have a camp that meets for more than for 4 days before game. Could not stand that happening last cycle.
i ding dutch wingbacks like dest for a reason. to me defense is more optional in the dutch league and they want you to go stir things up. they can stand it because ajax and PSV are usually a notch or two better than the rest, so they can take attacking risks. you do that in UCL and PSV is 14th with a lot of GA. you do that in a world cup and our knockout game loss happens.
i would be surprised if ledezma is team shopping. and it sounds like the new regime is returning to the old approach of rewarding commitment. i can’t believe ledezma was seen as a worse AM option than LDLT. i can believe he was seen as marginal and hedging his bets, in which case, go with committed.
IV,
” the new regime is returning to the old approach of rewarding commitment. i can’t believe ledezma was seen as a worse AM option than LDLT. i can believe he was seen as marginal and hedging his bets, in which case, go with committed”
Really? That’s because you don’t pay attention to facts.
During the period of time when LDLT was making his bid to be in Qatar, the 21-22 season and first half of the 22-23 season, Richie was sitting having blown out his anterior cruciate. He got back in the first part of 2022 but it still took him a while to get back into the PSV first team.
If there was any competition, it was between a LDLT with two knees and a Richie with one knee.
Most players I know are better with two functional knees.
I’m a big Richie fan but if that is the choice, it’s an easy one to make.
“but the guy is a starting fullback for a Champions League knockout team.”
Commitment aside, all that that means is that you have a good chance to see how Richie does against reasonable opposition. It doesn’t mean he is a lock to get called in.
snub? I don’t see that. Pochettino and his staff have had a lot of opportunities to see Richie play these last few months, maybe more than many of the other guys on this list. They have a lot of recent data on him. If that means he doesn’t get a call up this go around then it seems to me that they have their bases covered.
Brown may be on the fence. Probably not a snub. Poch has said if you are on the fence you ain’t getting called.
What in the holy Shaq Moore???????
bizzy,
” I guess he felt rejected / disrespected. After his game against Juventus, I think he has a point. Some players do nothing and get called up repeatedly, while some players are busting their butt to find traction and consistency and get “rejected”.”
So our regulars do nothing? You should name names. How about , for example: Gio Reyna, Ethan Horvath. Zach Steffen
And the “poor Richie is a victim ” narrative has begun.
I have been as big a fan of his since he broke on the scene as anyone but that narrative is very lame.
Richie’s biggest problems re the USMNT are:
1. He got hurt at the wrong time; just when he was starting to make his mark at PSV.
2. He plays the wrong position(s)
If Richie has not committed fully to the USMNT yet then the problem is :
1. Most every midfielder and fullback on the list has more USMNT experience with Pochettino than he does. So they are already more “integrated” into the group.
2. Richie plays plays two positions where we are ,frankly, already loaded.
Look at this list and tell me, of the players who have a realistic shot at the World Cup, who you are cutting in favor of Richie?
Fullbacks:
Scally,Weah, Dest, Jedi.
I don’t think so
Creative attacking midfielders who can also defend ( where he has yet to prove himself for PSV)
Jedi, Weah, Reyna, Dest, Busio, LDLT, Musah, Tessman, Johnny.
Maybe LDLT but otherwise I don’t think so.
Richie is at PSV with Ricardo, Malik, and Sergino. I don’t think PSV see Richie as beating out Malik for the creative attacking MF at PSV let alone with the USMNT.
My guess is he has a pretty good handle what he would face with trying to break into Pochettino’s regulars. I have not lost all hope but he’s going to need a lot of things to go his way to make the 2026 USMNT WC roster.
Pretty much November roster plus January roster plus injured plus MLS players not released in January.
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Ledezma is not on Mexican prelim roster either. Poch made it clear if you are not committed to the US he’s not calling you so if Richie is on the fence he’s not getting called by Poch.
Wow….this is a stacked Preliminary roster. I like it!!!!
Not a shock snub. Ledezma probably committing to Mexico.
Yup……Richard Ledezma already Hinted at Joining the Mexican National Team. I guess he felt rejected / disrespected. After his game against Juventus, I think he has a point. Some players do nothing and get called up repeatedly, while some players are busting their butt to find traction and consistency and get “rejected”.
Well, “one man’s trash is another man’s Treasure” I guess. He will make a great difference for El Tri……
bizzy,
” I guess he felt rejected / disrespected. After his game against Juventus, I think he has a point. Some players do nothing and get called up repeatedly, while some players are busting their butt to find traction and consistency and get “rejected”.”
So our regulars do nothing? You should name names like Gio. And the “poor Richie is a victim ” narrative has begun.
I have been as big a fan of his since he broke on the scene as anyone but that narrative is very lame.
Richie’s biggest problems re the USMNT are:
1. He got hurt at the wrong time; just when he was starting to make his mark.
2. He plays the wrong position(s)
If Richie has not committed fully to the USMNT yet then the problem is :
1. Most every midfielder and fullback on the list has more USMNT experience with Pochettino than he does. So they are already more “integrated” into the group.
2. Richie plays plays two positions where we are ,frankly, already loaded.
Look at this list and tell me, of the players who have a realistic shot at the World Cup, who you are cutting in favor of Richie?
Fullbacks:
Scally,Weah, Dest, Jedi. I don’t think so
Creative attacking midfielders who can also defend ( where he has yet to prove himself for PSV)
Jedi, Weah, Reyna, Dest, Busio, LDLT, Musah, Tessman, Johnny. Maybe LDLT but otherwise I don’t think so.
Richie is at PSV with Ricardo, Malik, and Sergino. My guess is he has a pretty good handle what he would face with trying to break into Pochettino’s regulars. I have not lost all hope but he’s going to need a lot of things to go his way to make the 2026 WC squad.
Perhaps it’s more about his game against Utrecht when he was flat footed and ball watching as Paxten jumped over him and scored a go ahead goal.
no, dude, any other window and it would be “can we get some consistent wingback play” or “can anyone but reyna play 10.” weah has rarely played in the back, and dest is literally out hurt, i don’t know how he’s still shoving anyone aside.
and you’re padding that AM list with 6s or wingbacks or people who may have the permanent frontline roles rather than the sliding spots.
and suggesting LDLT is a two way player is laughable. he gets abused if he tries to battle for the ball. and his upside is barely over nil.
sorry but this reeks of arrogance posing as analysis, ie, “we can do fine without him.” ergo start listing some guys who haven’t played that well but “we can use him instead.”
IV: Vacqui is talking about Ledezma’s chances on WC ‘26 roster not NL. If Richie were to play in NL he’d be tied, he’s over the youth age level. If he looks at FB he’s clearly not on level with Scally and probably has a pretty good idea of Dest’s rehabilitation (he’s supposed to be back after NL). Vacqui did pad some not MFs in his list but Richie hasn’t shown himself at that position either. His MLS numbers last year 0g 4a are below guys like Luna, Clark, Mihailovic, even Vassilev has been more productive in MLS than Richie was. And that’s looking at bottom of roster guys not comparing him to Gio, Aaronson bros, Tessmann, Johnny, Musah, Wes, and Malick. I don’t know what the Mexico roster looks like exactly but Araujo is a better RB than Richie and he’s had trouble breaking thru before his injury so maybe the grass isn’t much greener. Ledezma is right to get his passport and keep his options open because he’s not a regular for either at this point in his career.
Not on the Mexico roster either.
Yup…..Don’t think his Citizenship has been finalized
“Ledezma waiting for Mexico call as passport nears. PSV right back Richy Ledezma has said he’s waiting for Mexico’s call as he closes in on obtaining a Mexican passport. Ledezma was born in Arizona and has only represented the United States at the international level, but is eligible for Mexico through his parents.”