US Men’s National Team Roster Announced for Upcoming Friendlies Against Paraguay and Uruguay

The announcement of the USMNT roster Paraguay Uruguay has attracted attention due to several surprise inclusions and notable absences. On Thursday, head coach Mauricio Pochettino named a 25-player squad for the two upcoming friendlies.

USMNT Roster Paraguay Uruguay: Key Selections and Notable Absences

The roster marks the return of Borussia Mönchengladbach teammates Giovanni Reyna and Joe Scally, as well as Ricardo Pepi from PSV Eindhoven. However, several key players are missing. Weston McKennie (Juventus), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), and Tim Weah (Marseille) are not included in this window.

The United States will face Paraguay in Chester, Pennsylvania on November 15. Three days later, they will play Uruguay in Tampa. These matches will give Pochettino the opportunity to evaluate players ahead of the final World Cup squad selection.

Pochettino emphasized the importance of competitive mentality. He stated that this camp allows players to prove their readiness, professionalism, and value to the team.

Several absent players are currently recovering from injuries. Pulisic is nursing a hamstring issue. Weah suffered a thigh injury on October 25. Richards has been dealing with a calf problem. The reason for McKennie’s exclusion remains unclear, despite him playing recently for Juventus under new management from Luciano Spalletti.

In addition, Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson and Club América winger Alejandro Zendejas are also unavailable. This results in another international window where the USMNT will not have its full-strength lineup.

Reyna and Scally return for the first time since the 2025 Concacaf Nations League finals last March. Reyna recently joined Gladbach from Borussia Dortmund, and both players contributed to a 4-0 victory over St. Pauli. Their return could lead to a larger role for Reyna due to the absence of McKennie and Pulisic.

Ricardo Pepi also returns after scoring a stoppage-time equalizer for PSV in the Champions League. He will compete for minutes with Folarin Balogun of AS Monaco and Haji Wright of Coventry City.

Celtic defender Auston Trusty is included once again, benefiting from injuries to Cameron Carter-Vickers and Tristan Blackmon. The squad will gather in Philadelphia on November 9 to begin preparations.

The USMNT roster Paraguay Uruguay window presents a chance for emerging players to prove themselves on the international stage.