Pochettino Names 26-Man October Roster

Mauricio Pochettino named a 26-man October roster that is largely a first-choice group for friendlies against Ecuador (scheduled for Oct. 10 in Austin) and Australia (Oct. 14 in the Denver area), signaling the start of a serious push to narrow the pool for the 2026 World Cup. The squad reintegrates veterans and proven performers — including Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Antonee Robinson, Brenden Aaronson and Matt Turner — and adds returning faces such as James Sands to create clear competition for roster spots. A handful of key players are absent for injury or personal reasons, notably Tyler Adams, Sergiño Dest, Ricardo Pepi and Johnny Cardoso, and some players were summoned despite MLS playoff commitments. Pochettino emphasized a culture change of “perform or else,” prioritizing current form over past reputations as he evaluates who will make the final World Cup roster. The October friendlies against two World Cup-qualified opponents are intended as meaningful tests to build chemistry and assess players, with six competitive windows remaining before the pre-World Cup camp next June.