Which of Pochettino’s New USMNT Kids Are Actually Here to Stay?

Mauricio Pochettino used four friendlies to ask the question. The scores answered a narrower one.

The United States went 4-0 in the window: Peru 4-1, Chile 4-2, Mexico 3-0, Canada 1-0. Twelve goals. Half of them came from three players who did not have a cap in August. That is the evidence. A debut is not a place in the next squad.

Hall is the cleanest case

Julian Hall is 18, he plays for the New York Red Bulls, and he scored against Peru on debut, against Chile in his first start, and against Mexico. Three in three. After Chile he was the youngest American to score in each of his first two caps, ahead of Ricardo Pepi. The audition was helped by the room. Pepi was hurt. Folarin Balogun was not called. Hall still did it against three different opponents, which none of the other newcomers managed.

Ellis finished the window he opened

Justin Ellis is 19, he plays for Orlando City, and he scored four minutes into his debut, then again in the 29th minute against Canada while he was limping from a Stephen Eustaquio challenge. First goal of the window, last goal of the window. He was off at halftime both times. The finish works. The 90 minutes are still missing.

Sullivan is the name

Cavan Sullivan is not yet the player who stays. He debuted against Peru at 16 years and 363 days, started against Mexico, and became the youngest scorer in U.S. men’s history at 17 years and five days. The chip was his. The loose ball was Raúl Rangel’s. Manchester City are due to take him in January 2028, the first window after he turns 18. After Peru, Pochettino said he needs time, the same sentence he used for Mathis Albert, Zavier Gozo, Adri Mehmeti, Brooklyn Raines, Neil Pierre, Frankie Westfield, Hall and Ellis. The record does not shorten that sentence.

Albert sits between them. He is 17, he is at Borussia Dortmund, he won the penalty against Peru, and he scored against Chile to hold the youngest-scorer mark for four days. He started against Canada. He does not have Hall’s rhythm. He has a club that is not in MLS.

November is the filter

The rest debuted and did not leave the same mark. Before the window, Gozo looked the most ready to stick immediately. Mehmeti, Raines, Pierre, Westfield and Peyton Miller got minutes. Brian Schwake kept a clean sheet in his first start against Canada, in a match the United States finished with one shot on target. Useful. Not a selection.

The Nations League brings Christian Pulisic, Balogun and Weston McKennie back into the mix. Whoever from this group is still in the squad when those three return is the one who is here. Until then, Hall and Ellis are the only newcomers who answered the question with a goal more than once. Sullivan answered it with a camera.