The U.S. men’s national team’s January camp presented an opportunity for domestic-based players to prove they can play a role in the depth chart.
With the friendlies against Venezuela and Costa Rica falling outside an official FIFA international window, clubs were not required to release players for international duty. Thus, Mauricio Pochettino called in an entirely domestic-based squad, with MLS players currently in their club offseason.
As more and more top U.S. international talent moves to play club football abroad, there is a decreasing talent pool available for domestic call-up in January camp, and thus the roster was devoid of much potential for real excitement.
MORE: Full 2025 USMNT schedule and fixtures
With the top of the depth chart clogged by European-based players, it’s hard to see many of the players involved having a shot at breaking into the first-choice squad.
It’s even more unfortunate that nobody stepped up in a big way at positions of need, especially center-back, where veterans like Tim Ream, Walker Zimmerman, and Miles Robinson were given the bulk of the minutes.
Yet there were some players who may have a way into the senior squad. The most notable was Diego Luna, who made the most of his 45 minutes against Costa Rica by producing a beautiful assist minutes after getting his face bashed in. After an errant shoulder left him with a bloody nose that required off-field treatment and both nostrils plugged, he reentered play and drove forward before feeding a delicious vertical, line-breaking ball for Brian White up the gut.
Diego Luna and Brian White link up to deliver the lead!#USMNT x @VW pic.twitter.com/g0lghMaiFO
— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) January 23, 2025
Unfortunately, Luna had to come off at halftime to protect his broken nose, but it was clear he could play a role in this squad. Pochettino hilariously said after the match that Luna had “big balls” for coming back on with the knock to his face, and Luna humorously changed his Instagram profile picture to a photo of his busted schnozz.
“Their performance, the attitude, the capacity to adapt to the new ideas is amazing,” Pochettino said to TNT after the match. “That is a good idea because these people are pushing to be in the national team, and I’m so so pleased about that.”
The other top performer against Costa Rica was none other than Zack Steffen in goal. The former USMNT top prospect had fallen completely off the radar in recent years, in the aftermath of his failed move to Manchester City and subsequent struggles out on loan.
Steffen didn’t do much this season in MLS to warrant a call-up, but Pochettino gave him a shot and Steffen stepped up. The Colorado Rapids keeper produced two utterly outlandish saves, one in each half, to preserve the shutout.
If Steffen can prove at the club level he can be a consistent performer, he could be an option at a criminally thin position.
🙅♂️ Zack Steffen 🙅♂️
Watch USA vs. Costa Rica on TNT, truTV and Max 📺 pic.twitter.com/z2fh7hS7r7
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 23, 2025
ZACK. STEFFEN. pic.twitter.com/ceUburJ1jV
— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) January 23, 2025
Going back to the Venezuela game, Jack McGlynn was exceptional in midfield, but that position is clogged and it would be difficult to push into the senior squad unless he continues to improve.
The same is true for Emeka Eneli, who assisted the second goal against Costa Rica and was strong at the No. 6 spot, as well as Benjamin Cremaschi, who is continuing to develop into a potential future option. Yet at the moment, neither will have a way into the first-choice squad unless there’s a litany of injuries to make up for.
Up front, there’s a glutton of talent in the pool. Patrick Agyemang was impressive on and off the ball against in both games, but he will have a long way to go if he wishes to become a true backup to the regulars at the No. 9 position. If he can continue scoring in MLS next season, the late bloomer might become an option, but it will take more than one good season to be in the mix with European-based hitters like Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi.
Patrick Agyemang calls game in style 👋 pic.twitter.com/InBrgredAa
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 23, 2025
“We created many chances in the two games,” Pochettino said. “It’s about how to believe, it’s about taking the chances to show your quality. We have many players in our mind to say in March ‘ok, we need to pick the squad.'”
The modern iteration of January camp doesn’t present the same opportunities to make the immediate jump into the senior squad with one good month, but it does present an open door towards a longer-term look if players can catch the coach’s eye and then keep up the form at club level.
That’s what the players listed above must do to find their way into the mix — take their quality performances into the club level, knowing they have Pochettino’s attention. Don’t expect any immediate returns, though, because the depth chart is largely set.
“I told them from the beginning that they need to take these two games very seriously, because if they perform they will have the possibility to join us in the future,” Pochettino said. “And I’m so happy because I don’t need to repeat it too much, they way they behaved, their attitude and performance have made me very happy.
“Ok, you can bring different players who play in Europe, but when you get the kind of performance like today, it makes us very positive about the future.”
