Asked in Spanish about Chris Richards' status by @sanjaysujan.bsky.social, Poch went into a good deal more detail than he did in English. Is he alluding to other injury questions in the roster selection process? Leaving open the prospect of making changes? Full translated answer is worth a read:

On our Patreon, @sanjaysujan.bsky.social is keeping us abreast of the goings-on at US camp. We’ve recorded two episodes already with guests @jtannenwald.bsky.social & Ryan Tolmich. Lot of nuggets & interesting discussion that you won’t get anywhere else www.patreon.com/scuffed?utm_...

For Mauricio Pochettino, the USMNT's win over Senegal wasn't just about the result 🇺🇸 It was about inspiring "hope" — "I think it’s important also for the environment to trust a little bit.” With the World Cup nearing, belief grows. @sanjaysujan.bsky.social ⤵️

genuinely so glad the narrative about christian pulisic’s form can go away now narrative didn’t make sense given the dude was the USMNT’s best player against two very good teams in march time to move on and talk about more interesting things

Poch’s apparent reasoning for naming so few CMs to the USMNT’s World Cup squad? “Malik or Weston, the position is going a little bit deeper.” Risky late change from the U.S. boss. Fascinating details here from @sanjaysujan.bsky.social for @backheeled.com.

Mauricio Pochettino wants the USMNT to be "flexible". Reyna deeper? Dest in midfield? Robinson inverting With a murky midfield picture, most anything is possible. @sanjaysujan.bsky.social examines the questions answered by Pochettino — and the ones remaining ⤵️

We did a draft of all-time USMNT players (had to be on a WC roster between 1994 and 2022) and want people to vote on which team is the best. @awaygoals.bsky.social, Belz, @cboehm.bsky.social and @sanjaysujan.bsky.social were the GMs. No polls on this app so just drop your vote in the replies.

@us.theguardian.com revealed the #USMNT World Cup roster today, which still doesn't feature any of the world's best players. Why? I spoke to current and former coaches, academy directors and executives. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Big time 🇺🇸⚽️ @us.theguardian.com

this whole thing was fascinating and about so much more than soccer but this bit about the lineup Trump would’ve been a part of is just amazing to imagine.. ICMYI def read this 👇

I sat down with Adri Mehmeti — perhaps the USMNT's best prospect — to watch film. He's just 17, but crushes tape like a veteran. I picked Mehmeti's brain about scanning, his defensive play, and, oh, his status as a dual national 🇺🇸 🇦🇱 For @backheeled.com ⤵️

The most important angle here is clearly that Aidan Morris could still play Premier League football next year. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

(this means you’re good enough to be on a 26 man squad and it’s kind of a no brainer)

McGlynn's the best ball-striker the US has ever produced. Ever. Period.

🇺🇸 Sources: Colorado Rapids’ breakout attacker Darren Yapi has signed a U22 Initiative deal with the club. Yapi, 21, has 10 goals in MLS in the last year and is a USYNT regular. Plays as a striker + winger. A deserved new deal for Yapi, one that shows the Rapids’ faith in him.

B.J. Callaghan is an early candidate for MLS coach of the year. Could a return to the the #USMNT be in his future? The chatter about who will succeed Mauricio Pochettino is already starting, and understandably so. I asked Callaghan about that Saturday night: www.inquirer.com/soccer/bj-ca...

NEW: Their breakouts may have come a bit too late to make Mauricio Pochettino’s squad. But whether they debut in the near future or become a shock World Cup selection, their promise is unmissable. On Gozo and Hall and Adri and Niko: www.theguardian.com/football/202...

I looked at how the #USMNT pool has changed this cycle and how we can expect it to in the future, the kids that are on the way, and what that means for the identity of this team / hiring its next coach My latest @backheeled.com www.backheeled.com/usmnt-prospe...

the bar keeps rising for new ⚽️ facilities in 🇺🇸 but it takes a lot more than that to develop players. Wrote about that 👇

The Red Bulls were known for developing players, but now they're setting a new standard. I spoke to academy director Sean McAfferty and head of youth programs Dave Jervis, and spent some time around #RBNY to learn what's behind the youth movement @backheeled.com www.backheeled.com/jurgen-klopp...

John Tolkin once shared his frustrations w/me about how little actual soccer he got to play in RBNY's academy. Now that's changed. Kids are being allowed to use the ball now. Really enjoyed this look at RBNY's revitalized academy from @sanjaysujan.bsky.social.

Excellent work by @sanjaysujan.bsky.social on this extensive Michael Bradley profile. Already a hot commodity as a domestic up-and-comer, but really appreciated how Sanjay got Bradley to reflect on his USMNT career. Must-read at @us.theguardian.com: www.theguardian.com/football/202...

The timing of Matt Crocker's departure is startling, but the departure itself might not be as big of a deal as the shouting makes it out to be. Once the national training center was done, he'd checked three big boxes in his tenure. There weren't many left to check: www.inquirer.com/soccer/matt-...

Despite another defeat to a World Cup contender, key USMNT figures are focused on staying positive. "We feel really close," Christian Pulisic said following the U.S.'s loss to Portugal on Tuesday. Read the latest on the 🇺🇸 from @sanjaysujan.bsky.social ⤵️

What did we learn from the USMNT's loss to Belgium? From Atlanta, @sanjaysujan.bsky.social dives into the loss with analysis from Mauricio Pochettino and his players 🇺🇸 "I don’t feel like it was a 5-2 game," Christian Pulisic said postgame. Read ⤵️

Tim Ream is Mauricio Pochettino’s captain with the USMNT, but that doesn’t spare him any pressure. His view of the competition at centerback as the World Cup approaches, and as Father Time might be approaching too: www.inquirer.com/soccer/world... via @phillysport.bsky.social

Mauricio Pochettino has prized competition over chemistry for his version of the USMNT 🇺🇸 But with the World Cup nearing, will that chemistry form for the United States? @sanjaysujan.bsky.social examines the U.S.'s search for central continuity ⤵️

Last night, Alejandro Zendejas played a game on U.S. soil for the first time since he scored for the #USMNT vs. Japan. With two weeks until the last U.S. camp before the World Cup, he says "I’ll be working hard to make that roster": www.inquirer.com/soccer/aleja... via @phillysport.bsky.social

Matt Freese was back at Subaru Park yesterday, helping NYCFC thwart the Union again. It was actually one of his easier days out - perhaps one of the easiest days he'll have from now until the summer. My interview with him three weeks before #USMNT camp starts: www.inquirer.com/soccer/matt-...

It was Cavan Sullivan’s biggest game yet for the Union, and not just because of the goals he scored. Analysis, reactions, and his tribute to a soccer legend who was watching from the stands - his grandfather: www.inquirer.com/soccer/cavan... via @phillysport.bsky.social

When Mauricio Pochettino said the USMNT doesn't "have a lot of wingers”, Zavier Gozo took note. The rising 18-year-old attacker has big dreams — ones involving the national team and major European clubs. This is Gozo’s story. From @sanjaysujan.bsky.social ⤵️

Do you want my thoughts on the Washington Spirit and D.C. United? This is where they're going to be. Introducing Green Line Soccer:

30 MLS teams, 30 previews. Ahead of Saturday’s kickoff, read up on your favorite team with Backheeled’s in-depth 2026 MLS previews 🔮 Depth charts, tactics, expectations, and more for each and every team ⤵️

The USMNT has four friendlies remaining before the World Cup — but for Maurcio Pochettino, those friendlies are "four World Cup games" 🇺🇸 With key matches nearing, who should be in the U.S. squad? @sanjaysujan.bsky.social projects Pochettino's roster. Read ⤵️

Paige Bueckers is not afraid to use the platform her fame has given her - and right now, that matters even more with events in her home state of Minnesota. She spoke about that on the eve of stepping on to another big stage, the Unrivaled showcase in Philadelphia: www.inquirer.com/wnba/unrival...

Following MLS's announcement of its deal with Polymarket, I had some questions for the league about the "safeguards" the announcement touted. Senior VP of emerging ventures Chris Schlosser answered those questions, and said the deal is about protecting integrity: www.inquirer.com/soccer/mls-b...

🎙️New pod! A draft episode! @awaygoals.bsky.social, Vince, @sanjaysujan.bsky.social and Belz each try to pick the best team from among all the players Pochettino has called up since he took over the USMNT. Full of intrigue and PR campaigns. scuffed.simplecast.com/episodes/657-a…

A big piece on Cavan Sullivan: He is physically ready now for regular playing time, and as ambitious as ever about his goals. But he is also grounded about living in the spotlight, which reminds us why it was so crucial for him to turn pro with the Union. www.inquirer.com/soccer/cavan...

2026 has been so highly anticipated it feels like a culmination, but could this #USMNT core make 2030 part of their window for a deep run? My latest, looking ahead and ft. quotes from Poch, Gregg Berhalter, Landon Donovan, Antonee Robinson and Charlie Davies www.theguardian.com/football/202...

The USMNT's biggest year ever — headlined by this summer's World Cup — has just begun. @sanjaysujan.bsky.social has 10 bold predictions for Mauricio Pochettino's team in 2026, from a World Cup run to a big-money transfer 🔮 Read ⤵️

To start this World Cup year, a visit to the most successful men’s soccer player from Philadelphia that there’s been so far. Yes, that’s Brenden Aaronson, and he’s on a hot streak at Leeds United at an ideal time for his World Cup hopes: www.inquirer.com/soccer/brend... @phillysport.bsky.social

Managing what Mauricio Pochettino calls "competitive stress" could be key to that dream #USMNT summer. I spoke to Landon Donovan, Bob Bradley, Antonee Robinson and Gregg Berhalter about mentally and emotionally navigating the World Cup, and looked ahead to 2026. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Cavan Sullivan returned from the under-17 World Cup earlier than planned. Now he has turned his focus back to the Union. I talked with him one-on-one this week: www.inquirer.com/soccer/cavan... via @phillysport.bsky.social @inquirer.com

Tremendous result. Set pieces key. And what we learned about the right side of the #USMNT in this window 3 thoughts from Tampa 👇 www.backheeled.com/usmnt-win-ur...

The USMNT closed out its 2025 schedule with a bang, decimating Uruguay on Tuesday night 🇺🇸 “It shows that we have a deep team and that everybody is pushing to make Mauricio’s decisions as difficult as possible." From Florida, @sanjaysujan.bsky.social examines the United States' statement result ⤵️

Mauricio Pochettino’s selection strategy has been guided by the priority that players arrive in the best condition for the World Cup. But what does that mean? Is his approach risky? And how key could MLS players be in 2026? On form, fitness and freshness: www.backheeled.com/pochettino-u...

With some key players injured and others left with their clubs, is Mauricio Pochettino properly managing his roster selections? “The most important thing is that all the players arrive fit in a very good condition...to start the World Cup." But will that be enough, asks @sanjaysujan.bsky.social?

New from me: A big interview with Mauricio Pochettino as the #USMNT gets to work in Philadelphia. On the team's progress so far, his values, and his praise for the Union's impressive contributions to the national team player pool: www.inquirer.com/soccer/mauri... via @phillysport.bsky.social

You'll see a lot of #USMNT roster predictions and big boards ahead of the World Cup. To mix it up, I ranked players in order of who Mauricio Pochettino can least afford to lose. In other words, who is most valuable, and why? Check out my top 10 @backheeled.com www.backheeled.com/usmnt-mvp-ra...

Late night news: With the Union’s midfield hit by injuries, Cavan Sullivan won’t leave for the under-17 World Cup until after the first two games of the playoffs. He won’t miss any tournament games, just the pre-tournament camp. More details here: www.inquirer.com/soccer/cavan... #USMNT