Haji Wright and Josh Sargent continued to turn the English League Championship into their personal auditions for a U.S. men’s national team return as both American strikers continued their outstanding runs of form.
Wright scored a pair of goals in Coventry City’s seven-goal romp over Queens Park Rangers while Josh Sargent made it goals in four straight matches, albeit in a Norwich City defeat.
The EFL Championship was also good to Aidan Morris over the weekend, with the USMNT prospect delivering the winning assist in Middlesbrough’s win over Sargent and Norwich City.
Sergino Dest continued his excellent start to the Eredivisie season, putting in a 90-minute shift at left back and recording his third goal contributions in four matches in PSV’s 4-2 win vs. Groningen.
Folarin Balogun didn’t find the net, but the American striker played his first 90-minute match since May, starting in Monaco’s 1-0 loss to Lille. Johnny Cardoso made it two straight starts for Atletico Madrid, although Diego Simeone’s side settled for a second straight draw.
Here is a closer look at this weekend’s Americans Abroad:
England
Premier League
Tyler Adams started, played 88 minutes and drew a yellow card in Bournemouth’s 1-0 win over Wolves on Saturday.
Brenden Aaronson came off the bench and played 24 minutes in Leeds United’s 5-0 loss to Arsenal on Saturday.
Chris Richards started and played 90 minutes in Crystal Palace’s 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Antonee Robinson came off the bench and played 28 minutes in Fulham’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Sunday.
Championship
Haji Wright started, played 78 minutes and scored TWO GOALS in Coventry City’s 7-1 win vs. QPR on Saturday.
Josh Sargent started, played 90 minutes and scored ONE GOAL in Norwich City’s 2-1 loss to Middlesborough.
Aidan Morris started, played 90 minutes and delivered the game-winning ASSIST for Middlesbrough.
George Campbell started, played 90 minutes and drew a yellow card in West Bromwich Albion’s 1-1 draw with Portsmouth on Saturday.
Daryl Dike is OUT (Thigh Injury) for West Brom.
Damion Downs came off the bench and played 45 minutes in Southampton’s 2-1 loss to Stoke City on Saturday.
Charlie Kelman came off the bench and played 15 minutes in Charlton Athletic’s 2-1 loss to Leicester City on Saturday.
Caleb Wiley was OUT for Watford’s 1-1 draw vs. Swansea on Saturday.
Patrick Agyemang was OUT (Injury) for Derby County’s 1-1 draw vs. Bristol City on Friday.
League One
Lynden Gooch came off the bench and played 6 minutes in Huddersfield Town’s 1-0 win vs. Stevenage on Saturday.
Spain
La Liga
Johnny Cardoso started and played 67 minutes in Atletico Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Elche on Sunday.
Germany
Bundesliga
Joe Scally started, played 90 minutes and drew a yellow card in Borussia Moenchengladbach’s 0-0 draw with Hamburg on Sunday.
Gio Reyna did not dress for Borussia Moenchengladbach
Noahkai Banks dressed but did not play in Augsburg’s 3-1 win vs. Freiburg on Saturday.
James Sands started and played 86 minutes in St. Pauli’s 3-3 draw with Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.
Cole Campbell dressed but did not play for Borussia Dortmund.
Kristoffer Lund started and played 66 minutes in Cologne’s 1-0 win vs. Mainz on Sunday.
Lennard Maloney came off the bench and played 25 minutes for Mainz.
Timmy Chandler did not dress for Eintracht Frankfurt’s 4-1 win vs. Werder Bremen on Saturday.
Malik Tillman was OUT (injury) for Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 loss to Hoffenheim on Saturday.
Kevin Paredes was OUT (Injury) for Wolfsburg’s 3-1 win vs. Heidenheim on Sunday.
2. Bundesliga
John Tolkin started, played 90 minutes and scored one GOAL in Holstein Kiel’s 2-0 win vs. Greuther Furth on Sunday.Julian Green, Maxi Dietz and Greuther Furth host
Julian Green started and played 75 minutes for Greuther Furth.
Maxi Dietz started and played 90 minutes for Greuther Furth
Mael Corboz started and played 90 minutes in Arminia Bielefeld’s 2-1 loss to Dynamo Dresden on Sunday.
John Brooks was OUT (ankle injury) for Hertha Berlin’s 0-0 draw with Darmstadt on Sunday.
Johan Gomez came off the bench and played 26 minutes Eintracht Braunschweig’s 2-0 loss to Karlsruher on Saturday.
3. Liga
Terrence Boyd dressed but did not play in Waldhof Mannheim’s 2-0 win vs. Viktoria Cologne on Sunday.
Italy
Serie A
Christian Pulisic started and played 90 minutes in AC Milan’s 2-1 loss to Cremonese on Saturday.
Yunus Musah dressed but did not play for AC Milan.
Weston McKennie came off the bench and played 2 minutes in Juventus’ 2-0 win vs. Parma on Sunday.
Serie B
Gianluca Busio started and played 90 minutes in Venezia’s 2-1 win vs. Bari on Sunday.
Jonathan Klinsmann started, played 90 minutes and made 3 saves in Cesena’s 2-1 win vs. Pescara on Friday.
Andrija Novakovich came off the bench and played 12 minutes in Reggiana’s 2-1 loss to Palermo on Saturday.
France
Ligue 1
Folarin Balogun started and played 90 minutes in Monaco’s 1-0 loss to Lille on Sunday.
Tim Weah started and played 62 minutes in Marseille’s 5-2 win vs. Paris FC on Saturday.
Tanner Tessmann started and played 90 minutes in Lyon’s 3-0 win vs. Metz on Saturday.
Mark McKenzie started and played 90 minutes in Toulouse’s 2-0 win vs. Stade Brest on Sunday.
Ligue 2
Jordan Siebatcheu started and played 45 minutes in Stade Reims’ 1-0 loss to Pau FC on Monday.
Netherlands
Eredivisie
Sergino Dest started, played 90 minutes and recorded one ASSIST in PSV’s 4-2 win vs. Groningen on Saturday.
Ricardo Pepi came off the bench and played 5 minutes for PSV.
Taylor Booth started and played 69 minutes in FC Twente’s 2-1 win vs. Heerenveen on Sunday.
Zach Booth came off the bench and played 19 minutes in Excelsior’s 4-1 loss to FC Utrecht on Sunday.
Scotland
Premiership
Cameron Carter-Vickers dressed, but did not play in Celtic’s 3-0 win vs. Livingston on Saturday.
Auston Trusty was OUT (Injury) for Celtic.
Dante Polvara and Aberdeen are off until August 31.
Belgium
Pro League
Bryan Reynolds, Griffin Yow and Westerlo are off until Aug. 30th
Marlon Fossey started and played 90 minutes in Standard Liege’s 3-0 loss to Cercle Brugge on Saturday.
Austria
Bundesliga
George Bello started, played 86 minutes and drew a yellow card in LASK’s 3-0 loss to Red Bull Salzburg on Saturday.
Donovan Pines started and played 90 minutes in Grazer AK’s 1-1 draw vs. Rheindorf Altach on Sunday.
Croatia
HNL
Rokas Pukstas started and played 84 minutes in Hajduk Split’s 2-0 win vs. Osijek on Saturday.
Switzerland
Super League
Konrad De La Fuente and Lausanne are off unti. Aug. 31st.
Denmark
Superliagen
Jonathan Amon came off the bench and played 6 minutes in Vejle’s 1-0 loss to Aarhus on Sunday.
Matthew Hoppe started and played 60 minutes in Sonderjyske’s 2-0 win vs. Brondby on Sunday.
Gavin Beavers dressed, but did not play for Brondby.
Mexico
Liga MX
Richy Ledezma started and played 4 minutes (left with an injury) in Chivas Guadalajara’s 3-3 draw vs. Club Tijuana on Friday.
Daniel Aguirre came off the bench and played 26 minutes for Chivas.
Cade Cowell came off the bench and played 45 minutes for Chivas.
Alex Zendejas started, played 80 minutes and drew a yellow card in Club America’s 4-2 win vs. Atlas on Sunday.
I think Poch is going to have some surprising picks for the WC. Not just one or two but several. Some of those surprise picks will be starters. He knows he can’t win the WC. Not sure how deep they can go (lot depends on stage grouping) But I can see him gamble with some unknows or maybe players who have nothing to lose. Might work out might not.
USMNT roster: Pochettino picks 23-man squad to face South Korea, Japan
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino has recalled the likes of Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah and Sergiño Dest for his 23-man roster to face Asian powers South Korea (Sept. 6) and Japan (Sept. 9) during the first international break of the new European season.
MORE — USMNT upcoming schedule | All-time USMNT records
Pulisic notoriously opted out of this summer’s Gold Cup as he wanted to recover from the long 2024-25 season (3,122 minutes in 43 games for AC Milan) in order to be fully fresh for the new campaign which runs right up to next summer’s World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada — followed by some back-and-forth comments from player and coach — so there was perhaps a question over whether Pulisic, who was once captain of the USMNT, would be in Pochettino’s next squad. The Yanks were beaten 2-1 by Mexico in the Gold Cup final back in July, the program’s first time losing back-to-back Gold Cups since 2009 and 2011.
Thoughts about Pochettino’s latest squad, with the 2026 World Cup on home soil now less than 10 months away?
USMNT roster for September friendlies vs Japan, South Korea
Transfer needs for all 20 Premier League teams in final week of the summer window
Discover
Arsenal unveil Eberechi Eze after Crystal Palace transfer
Discover
La Compagnie
Fly New York to Europein Luxury with La Compagnie
Read More
Skip
How to watch Burnley vs Sunderland live: Stream, TV channel, team news, prediction
Discover
How to watch Everton vs Brighton live: Stream, TV channel, team news, prediction
Discover
Goalkeepers (3): Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Jonathan Klinsmann (Cesena)
Defenders (8): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Noahkai Banks(), Tristan Blackmon (Vancouver Whitecaps), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Alex Freeman (Orlando City), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace)
Midfielders (6): Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo), Sean Zawadzki (Columbus Crew)
Forwards (5): Damion Downs (Southampton), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan) Josh Sargent (Norwich), Tim Weah (Marseille), Alex Zendejas (Club America)
No McKenzie
No Musah
No Aaronson
No Cardoso
No Pepi
Interesting
#PochOut
With MLS season ending 4 days after the Oct window and the Nov window in the middle of the playoffs this might be the last available window for the MLS players. Whereas Euro players are either just starting up or Championship sides have been overloaded with cup matches. Wright and Weston are the only two who are confusing (no injuries, lack of form, recent move, etc…) Harriel is the only inclusion I can’t explain. There apparently will be one more added, I’m assuming it’s a forward, probably waiting to see on Pepi or Balogun’s status. Or could be waiting on a player about to move. Now waiting on the U20 roster.
Poch out for what? Most of those guys are returning from injury. These are friendly games.
There’s always an excuse. Done.
Also, you can be a Berhalter hater and ALSO admit Poch is horrible at this.
Gotta give him credit though…he got a couple wingers in this time. So there’s that. He’s done worse I guess.
It’s so ironic the Eurosnobs got their coach but then he calls in MLSers when the pool is replete with European based players. Funny.
bizzy,
“No McKenzie, Musah, Aaronson, Cardoso, Pepi”
+ Banks maybe took Mark’s time; I would think Pochettino has seen plenty of Mark. Makes you think he sees Richards and Ream as his #1 CB pair.
+ Musah probably on the bubble at Milan. Needs the time to make sure he impresses Allegri; another guy Pochettino does not need to see.
+ Aaronson not starting for Leeds might need the time to fight for his place there
+Johnny looking okay there but Pochettino probably wants him to nail down a spot at Madrid.
+ Pepi. Is he fully healthy? You don’t want to take a chance with a knee.
Most interesting call up for me is Klinsmann.
JR,
Crew Expert
Tell us all about Zawadski?
Zawadzki has been playing as the middle CB in the back 3 because Camacho has been injured. He was the DM replacement for Morris last year when he left for Middlesbrough. Looking at the roster I think they will use him as a sub for Adams and he’ll drop between the CBs in buildout.
————————————-
He’s not the biggest CB so he can get beaten by big strong CFs (Agyemang and Benteke were difficult matchups), but he usually is on an island with little help as Moriera and Cheberko/Amundson push into attack. This has helped him work on his positioning, angles, and IQ because he has to anticipate to stay out of bad spots. He’s good with the ball at his feet both dribbling and passing. If the opponent leaves him space he is not afraid to carry the ball into dangerous spots. He was on the original GC roster but got injured and withdrew. Is he likely to make a WC roster, no probably not.
You missed Ethan Horvath at Sheffield Wednesday
Pressing by Morris forced a Norwich turnover, and he later got the ball back to make his assist. Local press named him MOTM. He more than made his case.
Morris has been really good to the start of the season. For me he takes Musah spot.
Tessman, Jonny, Adams, Morris, Bethalter, Mckennie for September. Won’t be surprised to see Musah as a winger in September.
Here’s the type of thing I don’t understand here. Morris has been doing well and gets MOTM and gets kudos here. Sargent has scored in 4 straight games and most commenters here pass it off as meaning little. Why is doing well in the Championship a good thing for one player but not another? Someone please explain that to me.
Gary, I suspect it has to do with Sargent’s track record with the National team that many think is not very good. Morris doesn’t have as big a sample size with the national team so people haven’t had as long to decide they don’t think he is any good. This is possibly one explanation.
I wonder why Matko Miljevic is never in this Americans abroad thread. Last I looked he plays for Huracan in Argentina.
Scored a penalty I believe. Had an assist and red card in Copa Sudamerica midweek in loss to Once Caldas and Michael Barrios. Barrios scored and assisted and became an American citizen last week. His team advances to the quarterfinals.