The new year will get off to a fast start for the United States men’s national team with Mauricio Pochettino leading his first January camp for the national team. With the opportunity to spend time with younger national players in the national team group, the Argentinian will have a real insight into the depth of the USMNT. It’s been a whirlwind since he was officially hired in September, but the USMNT is in the semifinals of the Conacacaf Nations League with a chance to win its fourth consecutive title in the competition.
If Pochettino is going to do that, he will need a combination of getting the USMNT healthy with Folarin Balogun, Josh Sargent, Aidan Morris and Haji Wright all injured, but he will also need to see improvements in some players on the team. . Heading into the new year, here are some players to keep an eye on.
RB Sergiño Dest (PSV)
After missing the Copa América with a torn ACL, Sergiño Dest has been out of the mix for both PSV and the national team, but in 2025 he will return to action. While Dest has been out, Joe Scally has become a constant presence at right-back, showing that he can contribute at an initial level for the national team and Antonee Robinson has seen her role grow at left-back. Robinson is establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s best left-backs and is also getting a new role under Pochettino. By reversing possession, he has taken on more attacking responsibility, raising questions about how Dest will be used when he returns. It’s a good problem considering depth has been an issue for the USMNT, but Dest’s return to even close to full strength will be a huge boon for the USMNT.
Midfielder Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough)
Aidan Morris’s injury came at an inopportune time for both Middlesbrough and the national team as he was fit for his club and showing what he can do on the international stage. Building on a strong Olympic campaign to break into the senior team, Morris has been able to learn while making consistent appearances under Michael Carrick in a physical league. The growth can be seen moving from the Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer to the Championship. Able to transition from defense to attack with his vision and passing skills, Morris is a player to excite under Pochettino’s progressive style in 2025.
Forward Tim Weah (Juventus)
During 2024, Tim Weah had an up-and-down season, moving from full-back to forward at Juventus under Thiago Motta and receiving a critical red card during the Copa América with the USMNT that was the beginning of the end for Gregg Berhalter. He also had to deal with an injury that caused him to miss time. But when on the field, Weah has been electric helping to create space and key attacking opportunities no matter where he lines up. Under Pochettino, Weah started on the left side of the attack for the first time, pushing Christian Pulisic towards the center and helped produce the best 45 minutes of football the USMNT played in 2024, helping to raise the bar for 2025. It is unknown which flanker Weah will move forward, but he is currently a key member of the USMNT best XI, which will produce exciting football in 2025.
DEF Tim Ream (Charlotte FC)
While there has been a lot of talk about who will succeed Tim Ream on defense, a player also has to prove that he deserves to replace Ream. The 37-year-old centre-back knows what he can and cannot do, he has a relationship with Antonee Robinson and is usually in the right position. While Pochettino will want to see what other members of the XI can do, it is also his job to pick the team that has the best chance of winning for the USMNT. At the moment, that team involves Ream and one of the biggest questions going into 2025 is how long that will continue to be the case. Ream is doing his part to make the decision difficult.
The front group
This seems like a broken record, but once again, it’s another year without a clear image as a forward. Ricardo Pepi has been great for PSV and the national team, but it is difficult to judge his performances until he is a consistent starter. It’s different coming into a game from the bench than facing fresh legs from the start and it also wears on your body differently. Sargent and Balogun are injured, so it will be key to see what their performances are like after they recover, while the situation of the other forwards in the group is uncertain. Brandon Vázquez was in and out of the Monterrey XI and Jesús Ferreira could move to the Seattle Sounders. It’s a time that needs someone in the playing group to step up to challenge the starting nine spot.
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