The selection for the January camp has been announced and as we enter the first full calendar year of Mauricio Pochettino leading the United States men’s national team, the list is important. It’s an intriguing time for this team and 2025 will bring January’s friendlies against Costa Rica and Venezuela, and it’s the Concacaf Nations League and Gold Cup in the summer as the road to 2026 really gets underway.
Unlike years past, all of these leagues will also be led by the same manager, rather than the rotating cast of interim and permanent managers who oversee the USMNT. This gives players the opportunity to impress Pochettino as he also gains insight into the depth within his squad. With injuries to key senior players, this is an opportunity for domestic players to make their mark under Pochettino, while also learning from experienced team members.
Having Tim Ream in the starting lineup will be a boon for young defenders like Jalen Neal, as center back is one of the positions that could be up for grabs at the 2026 World Cup. Diego Luna, Jack McGlynn, Benjamin Cremaschi and Brian Gutierrez are other talented young forwards to keep an eye on. Pochetitno has stressed that regardless of whether someone is in Major League Soccer or abroad, young or old, he or she will have a chance of making it into their squad if they earn a place based on their play.
That makes this camp so important. It takes place outside a standard FIFA international break, so this is a domestic side without the usual strikers like Christian Pulisic. Historically, the USMNT has not performed well without their stars, but that makes this an intriguing time. It could be very easy to see a player from this squad and then part of the Nations League squad when things get going again in March.
Previously, January camp felt like a time with a difficult ceiling for finding players who might make a Gold Cup roster but not go further, but with Pochettnio’s appointment and the level of synergy from top to bottom in the US football, things feel a little different. Expectations and quality of the coaching setup have risen, thanks in part to Pochettno’s experience in developing youth players. This is also a time where he can show some of these guys what needs to be done to take the next step in their careers.
Even Jesus Ferreria, who played regularly for the USMNT under Gregg Berhalter, has been largely absent from Pochettino’s lineup so far. Good performances in these friendlies, along with injuries to Josh Sargent and Folarin Balogun, could put him back in the picture as the starting nine for the USMNT.
It’s an exciting time and while these players need to show Pochettino that they are ready to take the next step, there are plenty of opportunities in this camp. Even the opposition of Costa Rica and Venezuela will provide plenty of tests, as each of these teams has domestic talent that can challenge the USMNT. When playing against European countries, the USMNT will get their third tier squads at best, but that won’t be the case against sides from America. That gives more reasons than usual to keep an eye on things in January.