The United States men’s national team (USMNT) is facing a significant shake-up, losing key players, including Folarin Balogun, due to injuries. As described by head coach Mauricio Pochettino, this training camp, the longest since his appointment, will proceed without Balogun, DeJuan Jones, and Sean Zawadzki. They will be replaced by Walker Zimmerman, Nathan Harriel, and Paxten Aaronson ahead of friendlies against Türkiye and Switzerland as part of their preparation for the Gold Cup.

Balogun, who sustained an ankle injury, misses his chance for a first appearance under Pochettino. Having previously been sidelined with a shoulder injury, he is now out again, adding to a list that includes stars like Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie, and Gio Reyna, all absent from this camp. This situation is particularly concerning as it is the last major competitive opportunity for the USMNT before the World Cup next summer.

This collective absence of stars from the squad is unusual, and while the Gold Cup typically highlights domestic talents, USMNT’s situation is critical, signaling a need for improvement under Pochettino. The responsibility to step up falls heavily on Patrick Agyemang and Brian White as they strive to boost the team’s performance.