The USMNT’s March squad shows Mauricio Pochettino has much work to do before the World Cup

The last U.S. men’s soccer roster before the World Cup team is picked shows a far-from-settled depth chart three months before the tournament.

Attacking midfielder Gio Reyna made it despite barely playing for his club, Germany’s Borussia Mönchengladbach, but Alejandro Zendejas didn’t despite playing well for his club, Mexico’s Club América.

Media’s Auston Trusty made it at centerback, and versatile defender Joe Scally made it despite not playing well on Mönchengladbach’s back line. But marquee prospect Noahkai Banks pulled himself out for this camp as he weighs whether to commit to the U.S. or Germany.

There also seems to be a battle brewing for the backup goalkeeper position. Patrick Schulte didn’t make the cut this time, in the midst of an 0-2-2 start to the MLS season with Columbus. But U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino called four goalkeepers into this camp instead of the usual three: Chris Brady, Roman Celentano, Matt Turner, and expected starter Matt Freese.

On top of all that, Pochettino has had to battle the injury bug. Outside back Sergiño Dest is down with a hamstring injury until May. Midfielder James Sands has an ankle injury that required surgery, ending his club season at Germany’s St. Pauli and presumably ending his slim World Cup hopes.

Two stalwarts, midfielder Tyler Adams and forward Haji Wright, have suffered minor tweaks in recent days, while attacking midfielder Diego Luna is just back from a knee injury. They aren’t on this squad out of precaution, which is understandable.

» READ MORE: Matt Freese thwarted the Union again this month, this time with his biggest USMNT games of all on the horizon

Still, they’ll be missed for this month’s games in Atlanta against superstar-laden European opponents, Belgium on the 28th (3:30 p.m., TNT, Telemundo 62) and Portugal on the 31st (7 p.m., TNT, Telemundo 62).

Pochettino might have more to say about all this when he meets the media later Tuesday. There will certainly be many questions to ask.

Banks faces a life-defining choice, and it can’t be reversed once he makes it. He has played for U.S. youth teams, including at the 2023 under-17 World Cup, and earned his first senior call-up last September. But the Hawaii native has not played a game at the top level yet, and remains eligible to switch to the country he moved to as a young child.

Pochettino certainly wants him. Germany’s Sky Sports reported Thursday that the manager met with Banks, which was notable. Pochettino has signaled a few times during his tenure that he doesn’t care as much about dual-national recruiting as his predecessors, but the 19-year-old Banks is too big a talent to ignore.

» READ MORE: Noahkai Banks appreciates all the hype around him, but he's taking the slow and steady approach to his national team choice

Banks said last month that he has “been in touch with Germany before, to be honest,” but “was always very happy with the U.S.”

He then said “you can’t tell what happens in the future, but at the moment, there’s not a thought of switching, or something like this, because I’m happy with the U.S.”

That seems to have changed since then. Sky also reported, though, that none of the senior officials at the DFB (Germany’s federation) have contacted Banks.

There is at least one piece of good news. Antonee Robinson is back with the U.S. squad for the first time since October, and hopes to play for the first time since November 2024. He should slot straight into the starting left wingback spot, a big boost for the backline and the entire team.

» READ MORE: The importance of Antonee Robinson to the USMNT, on the field and in the locker room

Midfielder Johnny Cardoso is also back for the first time since last summer’s Gold Cup. He has a track record of not playing well for the national team, but he made a big club move after that tournament to Spanish giant Atlético Madrid. Cardoso has played 22 games there, including six in the Champions League.

Now he gets one shot to show he can deliver for his country and make a late run to make the World Cup squad.

Camp opens Monday in the Atlanta suburbs, although the full squad won’t be on the field until Tuesday. Nine of the players have games on Sunday, so they won’t travel until Monday.

Those games notably include midfielder Tanner Tessmann’s Lyon hosting striker Folarin Balogun’s Monaco in France’s Ligue 1 (10 a.m., beIN Sports); Freese hosting Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami at Yankee Stadium (1 p.m., Apple TV); and Cardoso visiting Real Madrid in a classic rivalry of Spain’s La Liga (4 p.m., ESPN Deportes, ESPN+).

» READ MORE: Brenden Aaronson is playing well for Leeds United at an ideal time for his World Cup hopes

Players with local ties are in bold.

Goalkeepers (4): Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati), Matt Freese (New York City FC; Wayne), Matt Turner (New England Revolution)

Defenders (9): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Alex Freeman (Villarreal, Spain), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse, France; Bear, Del.), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace, England), Antonee Robinson (Fulham, England), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach, Germany), Auston Trusty (Celtic, Scotland; Media)

Midfielders (8): Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Johnny Cardoso (Atlético Madrid, Spain), Weston McKennie (Juventus, Italy), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough, England), Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach, Germany), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), Tanner Tessmann (Olympique Lyonnais, France); Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)

Forwards (6): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United, England; Medford), Patrick Agyemang (Derby County, England), Folarin Balogun (Monaco, France), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan, Italy), Tim Weah (Marseille, France)