Noahkai Banks’ International Future Remains Open as USA and Germany Wait for His Decision

Noahkai Banks’ international future remains one of the more intriguing unresolved questions surrounding a young American playing in Europe.

The 19-year-old FC Augsburg defender is eligible to represent both the United States and Germany, and despite already receiving a senior USMNT call-up, he has yet to make his international debut. For now, Banks is still keeping both options open — and Mauricio Pochettino confirmed that the situation has not changed.

Speaking ahead of the United States’ upcoming international window, Pochettino revealed that Banks will not be considered for the next camp because the defender has still not made his decision.

“We are in contact with all the potential dual-nationals,” Pochettino said. “Even if they, like in that case, Noki, didn’t change his mind and is waiting still, no decision, and of course we cannot consider him for the next camp.”

The U.S. head coach also made clear that the door remains open.

“That human connection is important because if one day they feel that they can defend and they want to fight and to be part of our national team, of course, if they deserve it, and we consider that they deserve to be involved, of course we are going to call them up.”

For Banks, then, the situation is not a rejection of the United States. It is a decision that he continues to take seriously.

The timing is particularly interesting because Banks has emerged as an increasingly important player for Augsburg.

Born in Hawaii on December 1, 2006, Banks moved to Germany at a young age and joined Augsburg’s academy at the U-10 level. His mother is German, giving him eligibility for both countries, while his early international career was spent entirely with the United States.

He represented the U.S. at several youth levels and was part of the American squad at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

His development accelerated at club level as well. Banks signed his first professional contract with Augsburg at 17 and made his Bundesliga debut in January 2025. He subsequently established himself around the first-team squad and signed a contract extension through 2029. Augsburg describes him as a regular part of the senior team and a 1.93-meter center back who has become an important part of the club’s plans.

The United States has not been passive in the situation.

Banks was considered for Pochettino’s World Cup plans and was part of the broader conversation around the 2026 tournament. However, he ultimately removed himself from consideration for the March camp while he continued weighing his international future, and he was not part of the final World Cup picture.

At the time, Banks explained that he wanted to make the decision carefully rather than rush into a commitment.

That remains his position several months later.

In an interview earlier this year, Banks acknowledged that he was torn between the two countries and wanted to make the decision together with his family and people close to him. More recently, he indicated that he expects to make his international decision before the end of 2026. 

Germany’s interest carries a particular significance because Banks has spent most of his footballing life there.

Although he was born in Hawaii and began his international career with the United States, Augsburg has been his footballing home since childhood. He developed through the club’s youth system, progressed into the U-17 and U-19 levels and eventually broke into the Bundesliga.

His German eligibility also means the DFB can potentially offer him a pathway within the country where he has developed as a professional.

Banks’ situation is therefore more complicated than that of a player simply choosing between two national teams.

The United States represents his birthplace and the country he has represented throughout his youth international career.

Germany represents the country where he grew up and developed into a Bundesliga defender.

And now, at 19, he has reached the point where that choice could shape the next stage of his career.

For now, though, Banks will watch the next USMNT camp from Germany.

His club career continues to move forward, while his international career remains on hold.

And with Banks expecting to make his decision before the end of the year, the USA-Germany battle for one of the Bundesliga’s most intriguing young American-eligible defenders may finally be approaching its conclusion.