Timmy Tillman Called Up to USMNT as Pochettino Adjusts Roster

U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Mauricio Pochettino has made a small but significant adjustment to his roster ahead of the November friendlies against Paraguay and Uruguay, both of which have already secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Due to injuries to Tyler Adams (Bournemouth) and Sean Zawadzki (Columbus Crew), Timmy Tillman of Los Angeles FC has been added to the squad.

Tillman Returns to the USMNT Picture

Tillman, 26, was born in Germany and switched his international allegiance to the United States in 2023. He has one prior cap for the national team and won the 2023 U.S. Open Cup with LAFC. Tillman has been in strong form this season while his club pushes for a spot in the MLS Cup Final, and his call-up arrives at a crucial moment in the final international window before the 2026 World Cup preparations accelerate.

Roster Stability Despite Injuries

Despite the absences of Adams and Zawadzki, Pochettino has preserved the squad’s overall structure. The 24-man roster includes 11 MLS-based players, combining proven European-based internationals with in-form domestic talents.

Final USMNT Roster for November Friendlies

Goalkeepers (4): Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati), Matt Freese (NYCFC), Jonathan Klinsmann (Cesena/Italy), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew)

Defenders (9): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Sergiño Dest (PSV/Netherlands), Alex Freeman (Orlando City), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/France), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/Germany), John Tolkin (Holstein Kiel/Germany), Auston Trusty (Celtic/Scotland)

Midfielders (6): Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough/England), Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach/Germany), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), Tanner Tessmann (Lyon/France), Timmy Tillman (LAFC)

Forwards (5): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/England), Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco/France), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Ricardo Pepi (PSV/Netherlands), Haji Wright (Coventry City/England)

Strong Tests Ahead: Paraguay and Uruguay

These fixtures serve as the final matches of 2025 for the USMNT and are important tune-ups ahead of the 2026 cycle.

November 15: USA vs. Paraguay — Subaru Park, Chester, Pennsylvania (5:00 PM ET)

November 18: USA vs. Uruguay — Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida (7:00 PM ET)

Pochettino Building Chemistry and Consistency

Since taking charge of the national team, Pochettino has stressed the importance of continuity and a competitive mentality. The current roster mixes emerging starters like Freeman, Luna, and Morris with experienced internationals such as Dest, Ream, Robinson, and Aaronson.

“These are exactly the type of games we want — against world-class opponents, in front of our home fans, to test our chemistry and resilience,” Pochettino said earlier this month.

Conclusion

With limited roster changes, the United States closes out 2025 focused on constructing a cohesive and competitive squad for 2026. Timmy Tillman’s inclusion strengthens midfield depth and reflects the competitive environment Pochettino is cultivating within the team.