Mauricio Pochettino's first U.S. men's national team roster is a window into the central tension of his USMNT project.
U.S. Soccer revealed the roster Wednesday morning. It features a few semi-fresh faces, but no true surprises. It is not the overhaul that some hoped for or expected.
The group of 25 players who'll meet Panama and Mexico in friendlies this month is, instead, a near-replica of the group that crashed out of the 2024 Copa América, save for some injuries and adjustments on the margins.
Of the 26 players picked by previous coach Gregg Berhalter for the Copa, 19 are in Pochettino's first squad; and four others — Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna, Chris Richards and Cameron Carter-Vickers — surely would have been if healthy.