In their first matches following the dismissal of Gregg Berhalter following Copa America disappointment over the summer, the U.S. men's soccer team navigates a pair of September international friendlies.
The USMNT will first match up against Canada on September 7th in Kansas City in what the federation has dubbed Fan Appreciation Match. Les Rouges are led by American head coach Jesse Marsch, who led the side to a surprise spot in the Copa America semifinals.
Three days later on September 10, the U.S. will meet New Zealand at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati. Ranked 94th in the world by FIFA, the Football Ferns are regular World Cup participants as they dominate the Oceanic confederation.
The Sporting News has all you need to know about the players called into the squad and those left out by the interim USMNT coaching staff.
MORE: How reported hire Mauricio Pochettino would fit as USMNT head coach
USA men's soccer roster for September friendlies 2024
24 players have been called in to the USMNT roster for the friendlies against Canada and New Zealand.
| Pos | Player | Club |
| GK | Ethan Horvath | Cardiff City (WAL) |
| GK | Diego Kochen | Barcelona II (ESP) |
| GK | Matt Turner | Crystal Palace (ENG) |
| GK | Patrick Schulte | Columbus Crew (USA) |
| DEF | Auston Trusty | Celtic (SCO) |
| DEF | Marlon Fossey | Standard Liege (BEL) |
| DEF | Kristoffer Lund | Palermo (ITA) |
| DEF | Mark McKenzie | Toulouse (FRA) |
| DEF | Tim Ream | Charlotte FC (USA) |
| DEF | Chris Richards | Crystal Palace (ENG) |
| DEF | Joe Scally | Borussia Monchengladbach (GER) |
| DEF | Caleb Wiley | Strasbourg (FRA) |
| MID | Johnny Cardoso | Real Betis (ESP) |
| MID | Luca de la Torre | Celta Vigo (ESP) |
| MID | Aidan Morris | Middlesbrough (ENG) |
| MID | Yunus Musah | AC Milan (ITA) |
| MID | Gio Reyna | Borussia Dortmund (GER) |
| MID | Malik Tillman | PSV Eindhoven (NED) |
| FWD | Brenden Aaronson | Leeds United (ENG) |
| FWD | Folarin Balogun | Monaco (FRA) |
| FWD | Ricardo Pepi | PSV Eindhoven (NED) |
| FWD | Christian Pulisic | AC Milan (ITA) |
| FWD | Josh Sargent | Norwich City (ENG) |
| FWD | Haji Wright | Coventry City (ENG) |
Two players are missing for the USMNT due to injury. Sergino Dest continues to recover from his ACL tear just before the summer, and Tyler Adams is still down with a back issue as his Bournemouth tenure remains bereft with fitness problems. Tim Weah is also absent thanks to a hamstring injury suffered in the Juventus season opener.
The roster is also missing a few key players who aren't struggling with fitness. Left-back star Antonee Robinson is not included, but his first-choice position can be considered secure, and as a key player for Fulham playing heavy minutes at the club level, it's almost certain that he has been excluded to get some well-earned rest. The same can not be said for Weston McKennie, who has been stuck on the bench at Juventus under new head coach Thiago Silva despite recently signing a new contract with the Italian club. Also missing is defender Cameron Carter-Vickers despite his status as a regular starter at Celtic, as is Miles Robinson who has had a spotty first season with FC Cincinnati.
There are also some new faces in the mix as U.S. Soccer uses these games to trial some highly untested players. 25-year-old Marlon Fossey, a former Fulham youth product now with Belgian side Standard Liege, has earned his first call-up amidst a thin right-back position. Former Atlanta United full-back Caleb Wiley, who has moved to Chelsea and been sent on loan to Strasbourg, is also brought in, while Barcelona youth product Diego Kochan has been handed a spot at the thin goalkeeper position.
Who will coach USMNT in September friendlies?
With no permanent head coach yet to be officially named by U.S. Soccer, U.S. Soccer has tabbed Mikey Varas to lead the squad in the September friendlies. It has been rumored for weeks that Varas would be the man in charge, even if a permanent boss had already been hired by this point, and U.S. Soccer confirmed that the decision to put Varas in the interim role was made a while ago.
Mauricio Pochettino is expected to eventually be named national team boss, but the deal has not yet been signed and sealed, with Pochettino's departure from Chelsea reportedly hanging up the move. It's widely expected to be taken care of at some point, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that the roadblocks have been cleared and a deal is on the verge of being signed.
An assistant with FC Dallas in 2019, Varas was brought into the U.S. Soccer youth setup in 2021 and coached the U-20 side to a CONCACAF U-20 title in 2022 before suffering a quarterfinal exit in the 2023 U-20 FIFA World Cup.
Varas has reportedly been named as the first head coach of MLS expansion side San Diego FC, who are set for their debut season in 2025.
U.S. Soccer also announced the addition of a few assistant coaches to the staff, including former Liverpool goalkeeping coach Jack Robinson.
How to watch USMNT vs. Canada, New Zealand in September friendlies
USA vs. Canada
- Date: Saturday, September 7
- Time: 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT
- TV channel: TBS
- Streaming: Sling, Max
USA vs. New Zealand
- Date: Tuesday, September 10
- Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
- TV channel: TNT
- Streaming: Sling, Max
U.S. Soccer has a rights deal with Turner Sports for friendly matches. As such, the match against Canada will be televised on TBS, and three days later the game against New Zealand will be broadcast on TNT.
Both channels are available to stream on Sling, while it can also be found on Turner's streaming service Max.