USMNT name 24-player roster for September friendlies

The United States men’s national team announced the 24-player roster for the upcoming friendlies against Uzbekistan and Oman, with Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun headlining the squad. 

Head coach Gregg Berhalter will be back in action, after his contract with U.S. Soccer ended following the culmination of the 2022 World Cup. The football federation then conducted an independent investigation into a matter of domestic abuse and blackmail, before clearing Berhalter and rehiring him to lead the senior men’s national team for a second time. 

Players will begin reporting to St. Louis on September 3rd for training camp, in preparation to face Uzbekistan first on the 9th before traveling to host Oman in St. Paul, Minnesota just three days later.  

“We have a long-term strategic approach, with two of the principles being strong rosters and maintaining continuity,” Berhalter said. 

“We are thrilled to have a number of core players in this group while also being able to introduce some new faces to the senior team. Uzbekistan and Oman are types of teams we could face in the World Cup, so it’s an important opportunity to gain that experience.”

The squad sees 12 players who lifted the 2023 Nations League trophy return to the fold, while several new faces seek to make their first appearances. Inter Miami’s Benjamin Cremaschi earned his first call up, after the Argentinian-American figure stood out in recent Leagues Cup and Major League Soccer matches when linking up with new teammate Lionel Messi. 

Even if Cremaschi features against Uzbekistan and Oman, the player would remain eligible for the Argentinian national team given the friendly nature of the games. 

Borussia Dortmund figure Giovanni Reyna is notably missing from the roster, after picking up a calf injury during the Concacaf Nations League final against Canada in June.

The highly anticipated reunion between the winger and Berhalter will have to wait. The two fell have yet to communicate since the public feud involving Gregg Berhalter and the Reynas unfolded following the World Cup. 

Other notable absences due to injury include Tyler Adams, Taylor Booth, Cameron Carter-Vcikers, Zack Steffen and Walker Zimmerman. 

Here’s the full roster:

Goalkeepers:

• Drake Callender (Inter Miami)
• Ethan Horvath (Nottingham Forest)
• Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest)

Defenders:

• Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven)
• Kristoffer Lund (Palermo)
• Mark McKenzie (Genk)
• Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg)
• Tim Ream (Fulham)
• Chris Richards (Crystal Palace)
• Antonee Robinson (Fulham) 
• Miles Robinson (Atlanta United)
• Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach)

Midfielders:

• Johnny Cardoso (Internacional)
• Ben Cremaschi (Inter Miami)
• Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo) 
• Weston McKennie (Juventus)
• Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA)
• Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven)

Forwards:

• Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin)
• Folarin Balogun (Arsenal)
• Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes)
• Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven)
• Christian Pulisic (AC Milan)
• Tim Weah (Juventus)