As the United States men’s national team prepares to face South Korea this Saturday, coach Mauricio Pochettino is set to welcome back key players like Sergino Dest, Folarin Balogun, and Christian Pulisic. However, this window also serves as a crucial evaluation time for potential World Cup candidates.
In goal, both Roman Celentano and Jonathan Klinsmann may earn their first caps, with young defenders Tristan Blackmon and Noahkai Banks expected to make an appearance as well.
Pochettino, acknowledging the inclusion of uncapped players due to areas of concern, has emphasized the importance of player evaluations during these matches against strong teams like South Korea and Japan.
“[Banks is] a player that is really young but with amazing potential…” — Mauricio Pochettino.
His squad choices indicate a mix of both experienced players like Tim Ream and younger talents aiming for a spot in the upcoming World Cup.
USMNT Predicted Lineup: Matt Freese, Sergino Dest, Chris Richards, Noahkai Banks, Max Arfsten, Tyler Adams, Luca De La Torre, Diego Luna, Tim Weah, Christian Pulisic, Josh Sargent.
Match Details:
- Date: Saturday, September 6
- Time: 5 p.m. ET
- Location: Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, New Jersey
- TV: TNT | Live stream: Fubo Try for free
- Odds: USMNT +125; Draw +230; South Korea +220
