USMNT roster, squad for September 2025 friendly matches against South Korea, Japan

USMNT fans will learn a lot about how head coach Mauricio Pochettino views the squad with the 2026 FIFA World Cup less than a year away as the group convenes for a pair of friendlies against South Korea and Japan in early September.

Pochettino called in a number of fringe players for the Gold Cup over the summer, reaching the final before being bested by rivals Mexico. While many fans believe that more recognizable players will be eventually brought back into the fold, Pochettino has also shown strong loyalty to the group which largely consisted of domestic-based players.

Christian Pulisic returns to the fold after asking to rest over the summer, a decision which caused quite a stir amongst fans and media. Others who were forced into Club World Cup duty, including Tim Weah and Weston McKennie, will also likely return, but there are many other European-based veterans who are potentially still on the outside looking in.

With the final competitive fixtures before next summer’s World Cup on home soil now in the rear view mirror, the slate of friendlies now begins as the leadup to the competition is in full swing.

USMNT roster for September friendlies vs. South Korea, Japan

Mauricio Pochettino has called in 22 players for the September international break, with one more call-up expected to come through before the matches commence.

Multiple times during his press conference upon revealing the roster, Pochettino hinted that this would be the final time before the 2026 FIFA World Cup in which regular contributors were left out and fringe players were given a chance to impress.

“This is the last camp to have the possibility for us to see new players, new faces,” Pochettino said. He conceded that “players that started preseason late, that moved to a new club,” were given the international break off, allowing them the chance to either continue building to full fitness or gain valuable training time with their new club.

Below is the official roster the USMNT in the September, 2025 window, which was announced on Tuesday, August 26.

MORE: Full USMNT schedule, results, highlights for 2025 matches

Christian Pulisic returns for USMNT

USMNT superstar Christian Pulisic caused a firestorm when it was revealed that he wished to rest over the summer instead of be called up for the Gold Cup.

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup right around the corner, and the Gold Cup representing the final competitive matches before the all-important tournament, his absence was felt both on the pitch and in the dressing room. It also caused a stir with many former players who were critical of Pulisic’s decision to put his own health before the needs of the national team.

Mauricio Pochettino said the incident is behind them. “We didn’t talk with Christian,” Pochettino said. “There’s nothing to talk about, it’s behind us. We have to look forward, we have a plan for every single player.”

Pulisic now returns to the fold this September. Despite the outside noise, Pulisic has the public support of many players and coaches both currently within the national team picture and those who have been inside the program alongside Pulisic in the past. Don’t expect his presence to cause too much of a problem internally moving forward.

MORE: Christian Pulisic needs more walk, less talk after Gold Cup absence

European-based players still largely forgotten

A number of European-based American players were left out of action during the Gold Cup this summer, as Mauricio Pochettino looked to make a statement about the attitude of many individuals.

The most shocking exclusions of the entire roster were that of Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah, as both players are contracted to big Italian clubs but are struggling for playing time early in the season. Still, those two individuals are considered core pieces of the USMNT player pool, and their absence for a second straight international window has eyebrows raised.

The likes of Cameron Carter-Vickers, Tanner Tessmann, Joe Scally, Gio Reyna, and Josh Sargent were all excluded from the Gold Cup roster for what Pochettino called “football reasons,” hoping to indicate to those players that work must be done to remain involved. Sargent returns to the fold this month after starting strong with Norwich, while Haji Wright was not included as he has only recently returned from an injury suffered early in the Gold Cup. Other European-based regulars left off include Johnny Cardoso, Aidan Morris, and Mark McKenzie.

A couple of European-based players are also suffering from injuries and have been left out, or are only just recovered. The most notable is Antonee Robinson, who returned for Fulham on August 24 after having offseason knee surgery that forced him out of the Gold Cup and continues his recovery to full fitness. Folarin Balogun is playing again for AS Monaco but was left off to continue his return to fitness, while Sergino Dest has been brought back in after starting the season well with PSV. Patrick Agyemang has yet to debut for his new club Derby County thanks to a hernia.

Tristan Blackmon, Noahkai Banks called in by USMNT

New Vancouver Whitecaps superstar Thomas Muller accidentally (and humorously) revealed an international call-up for center-back Tristan Blackmon by the United States.

According to ESPN back in May, the 29-year-old has been in discussions with Canada head coach Jesse Marsch about potentially playing for Canada. Blackmon was born in Las Vegas and is a U.S. citizen, but having played for the Whitecaps for the last four years, Canada were reportedly prepared to fast-track his application for a passport should he commit.

Instead, he’s now been called-up by his home country and could be an unexpected player for a spot on the World Cup roster at a center-back position that is exceedingly unsettled outside of leader Chris Richards.

Thomas Muller accidentally announcing that Tristan Blackmon is getting called up to the USMNT 😭 pic.twitter.com/pzHXl3qU4P

— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) August 24, 2025

Also earning his first international call-up is 18-year-old Augsburg defender Noahkai Banks who was born in Hawaii but moved to Germany where his mother is from. He joined Augsburg since 2015 when he was only eight years old, and has progressed through the U.S. youth international ranks while working towards a first-team place.

Banks has just eight career Bundesliga appearances under his belt, including none this season so far.

How to watch USMNT friendlies vs. South Korea, Japan

The United States will take on South Korea first on Saturday, September 6 in Harrison, New Jersey. The game will kick off at 5 p.m. ET.

That match will be followed by a second friendly against Japan three days later from Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio. That match will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET.

USA vs. South Korea

• TV (English): TNT
• Streaming (English): Max, Sling
• TV (Spanish): Universo, Telemundo
• Streaming (Spanish): Fubo, Peacock, Universo NOW, Telemundo Deportes en Vivo

USA vs. Japan

• TV (English): TNT
• Streaming (English): Max, Sling
• TV (Spanish): Universo, Telemundo
• Streaming (Spanish): Fubo, Peacock, Universo NOW, Telemundo Deportes en Vivo