Soccer <\/p>\n
The US men\u2019s national team<\/a> are mere days away from their final gathering before a FIFA World Cup<\/a> summer, this month\u2019s high-profile friendlies against Belgium and Portugal at Atlanta United<\/a>‘s\u00a0Mercedes-Benz Stadium.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n There\u2019s now just a matter of weeks to go before that massive, long-awaited tournament on home soil kicks off against Paraguay in Southern California on June 12.<\/p>\n And still head coach Mauricio Pochettino doesn\u2019t have full availability of all his players due to a wide spectrum of injuries and fitness concerns, with regulars like Tyler Adams,\u00a0Diego Luna,<\/a> Haji Wright and Sergi\u00f1o Dest left off the March roster released on Tuesday morning<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s a recurring reality of the international game, by now familiar to \u2018Poch\u2019 and his staff. So, regardless of who\u2019s in uniform, they expect the same high level displayed in last autumn\u2019s wins over Australia, Paraguay and Uruguay, probably the team\u2019s best outings under Pochettino.<\/p>\n \u201cMost important is to try to detect the right selection, to be very, very close to performing the way that we perform in the last two camps,\u201d the Argentine manager told reporters after his squad was unveiled, noting there are 10 personnel changes from then to now.<\/p>\n \u201cOctober and November were a very good example that, maybe with a different roster, different names, but the team performed. And what we need to do is to have the possibility to see [that] again in this camp.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Representing the @USMNT<\/a> in friendlies against Belgium and Portugal. \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 pic.twitter.com\/VghaPkPY9V<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 17, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n When they congregate at U.S. Soccer\u2019s brand-new National Training Center, the gleaming facility in exurban Atlanta named after chief benefactor and ATLUTD owner Arthur Blank, Pochettino & Co. must swiftly gather their firsthand evaluations of players they haven\u2019t worked with up close in some four months, then fashion lineups that can stand toe-to-toe with two of Europe\u2019s most talented contenders.<\/p>\n Is the Tim Ream<\/a>-Chris Richards center-back pairing still the best choice at the heart of defense? Can anyone challenge Matt Freese<\/a>\u2019s hold on the starting goalkeeper job? Will Weston McKennie translate his superb form at Juventus to the national team? Does Christian Pulisic remain the attacking nexus despite a recent paucity of goal contributions at AC Milan? And which strikers will make the cut?<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s an art, because every single player is different and can add different things to the team,\u201d said Pochettino. \u201cWe cannot follow some rule, because I think it’s not fair to judge all in the same way. But I think it\u2019s two different things that we appreciate, and we expect for the players to add to the national team.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause all are completely different \u2013 different character, different profiles, different quality, different talent.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \n \n
Questions remain<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n