Pochettino's USA future options

With the news official that Mauricio Pochettino will continue as coach of USA, thoughts turn to the future of the Stars & Stripes and the various competitions on the horizon prior to the start of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2030™.

No doubt some new blood will be brought into the fold, as the Americans aim for titles in the Concacaf Nations League and Concacaf Gold Cup in 2027, plus the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament at Los Angeles 2028.

FIFA takes a look at some of the young players who are positioning themselves to become a major part of Pochettino’s plans in the next 12-24 months.

Mathis Albert

Albert has been turning heads in U.S. Soccer circles for a while now. He was named to Borussia Dortmund’s squad for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ and then later that year starred at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025™ for the Americans. Capable of playing on either the left or right wing, Albert has explosive acceleration, very strong dribbling skills and boasts excellent technique, giving him all the traits to make him one of the next best attacking players to come out of Dortmund. USA fans would love to see Albert enter the mix in the upcoming months.

Noahkai Banks

Banks received a previous senior team call-up from Pochettino last September, but is yet to debut officially for the Stars & Stripes. The 19-year-old German-American and Augsburg centre-back could also be lured by new Germany coach Jurgen Klopp to suit up for the Europeans, so competition to bring in Banks might become fierce. It is with good reason, too. Banks has a dominant 6ft 4in frame, which makes him a force on aerial duels, and he also displays accurate and progressive passing. A player getting regular Bundesliga minutes will always be one that can contribute to a U.S. national team setup.

Ben Cremaschi

The winner of the adidas Golden Boot at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025™, Cremaschi has already seen time with Pochettino at senior team level. The former Inter Miami man is set to begin his first full season in Europe with Italian outfit Parma. Cremaschi is a box-to-box midfielder known for his work rate, impressive link-up play and off-the-ball movement. Injuries have posed a problem for the 21-year-old, so it will be imperative for him to have a healthy, productive season in Serie A to earn another call-up from Pochettino.

Zavier Gozo

The 19-year-old attacker made a late charge for inclusion on the World Cup 2026 roster, but fell just short. He has been superb for Real Salt Lake during the 2026 season with six goals and five assists. Normally deployed on the right wing, Gozo has blistering pace and wreaks havoc in 1v1 situations. While his attacking prowess gets the attention, his defensive play in tracking back and pressing to win back possession should not be overlooked. Gozo was a standout for USA at Chile 2025 and is now poised to excel at senior team level.

Julian Hall

Hall is arguably the most compelling player that could soon get a look from Pochettino. The nine goals and four assists from the 18-year-old New York Red Bulls striker catch the eye initially, but behind the numbers there is a more interesting story. Hall is more of a cerebral type of goalscorer rather than one who relies on raw athleticism and speed. His spatial awareness and ability to manipulate defenders with intelligence, movement and patience has yielded more goals of the tap-in variety. Hall became the youngest player in MLS history to score a hat-trick earlier this season, and all three goals came from inside the six-yard box. His knack for being at the right place at the right time in front of goal will no doubt put him on Pochettino’s radar.

Cavan Sullivan

There has already been plenty of attention paid to Sullivan and he hasn’t disappointed when afforded the opportunity on the international stage, standing out for USA at the U-17 World Cup 2025. The 16-year-old Philadelphia Union midfielder is bursting with attacking quality, but what endears him to fans already is the passion and fighting spirit with which he plays, an attribute sorely sought by the fiery Pochettino. With nearly 30 MLS matches under his belt and four assists in 2026 with the Union, Sullivan’s senior team moment looks to be drawing very close.