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Mauricio Pochettino, head coach of the U.S. national team, is eager to work with Tim Weah, the talented winger who has impressed at Juventus. Weah, the son of former FIFA Player of the Year and Liberia’s ex-president George Weah, was named to the U.S. squad for their upcoming CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals against Jamaica.
Mauricio Pochettino recalls playing against George Weah
In his first competitive call-up for the U.S. team, Pochettino remarked on Weah's potential, drawing comparisons with his father's distinguished playing career. “I played a few games against his father, and I want to see if he has the same character,” said Pochettino. “His father was amazing. Every time I played against him, I suffered. It was difficult to sleep the night before.”
Weah’s inclusion marks a significant moment in his international career, but he will miss the first leg of the series in Kingston, Jamaica, due to a suspension following a red card in the Copa America loss to Panama earlier this year.
He was given a two-match suspension for an incident during the match in June, where he punched a defender in the back of the head. While he will sit out Thursday's game, he is expected to join the U.S. team for the second leg in Orlando before heading to St. Louis for the return match on November 18.
Key absences and injury updates
Tyler Adams, who captained the U.S. team at the 2022 World Cup, will not rejoin the squad due to ongoing injury concerns. Adams, sidelined for much of the 2023-24 season due to a hamstring injury and back surgery, is working on regaining full fitness with his club, Bournemouth.
Pochettino emphasized the importance of managing Adams’ recovery with the 2026 World Cup in mind, saying, “It’s important to see his progression. We need to look after him to have him in the best condition for 2026.”
Other key players like Sergiño Dest, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Gio Reyna, and Luca De La Torre will also miss out due to injury, further limiting the team's options for the Nations League series.
Roster additions and changes
While some players are absent due to injury, several new faces have been added to the roster. Forward Cade Cowell, midfielder Johnny Cardoso, defender Chris Richards, and goalkeeper Diego Kochen are included after missing the previous set of matches. Chris Richards is part of the squad despite not featuring for his club Crystal Palace since late September, while Cardoso returns after an injury layoff.
Forwards Folarin Balogun, Josh Sargent, and Haji Wright will also miss the match due to injury, but Wright, who scored for Coventry City on Saturday, is expected to make a quick recovery.
Christian Pulisic, with 74 international appearances, will lead the team in experience as they look to advance in the Nations League and prepare for the 2026 World Cup.
U.S. National Team Roster for CONCACAF Nations League Quarterfinals:
Goalkeepers:
Diego Kochen (Barcelona Atlètic)
Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew)
Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids)
Matt Turner (Crystal Palace)
Defenders:
Mark McKenzie (Toulouse)
Tim Ream (Charlotte FC)
Chris Richards (Crystal Palace)
Antonee Robinson (Fulham)
Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati)
Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
Auston Trusty (Celtic)
Midfielders:
Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United)
Gianluca Busio (Venezia)
Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis)
Weston McKennie (Juventus)
Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough)
Yunus Musah (AC Milan)
Tanner Tessmann (Lyon)
Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven)
Forwards:
Cade Cowell (Chivas)
Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven)
Christian Pulisic (AC Milan)
Brandon Vazquez (Monterrey)
Tim Weah (Juventus)
Alex Zendejas (América)
As the U.S. national team gears up for their Nations League showdown with Jamaica, the team remains focused on long-term development and the upcoming 2026 World Cup, where Pochettino will have just six more training camps to fine-tune his squad. With the likes of Tim Weah and Christian Pulisic leading the charge, the U.S. aims to build momentum for what promises to be an exciting future on the international stage.
