USMNT Welcomes Back Its Stars and Introduces Two New Faces for Haiti Series

The United States Men’s National Team is turning the page to competitive action with its November roster. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino has selected 25 players for the two-legged Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series against Haiti, bringing back several established figures while introducing two new faces to the senior setup.

Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Weston McKennie headline the returning group after missing the September and October international window. Their return adds experience and attacking quality to a squad that includes 19 players from the previous camp, when the United States won all four of its friendly matches.

But two selections stand out as particularly important milestones: defender Reed Baker-Whiting and midfielder Santiago Castañeda have both earned their first senior national team call-ups.

Baker-Whiting joins the national team after establishing himself in Major League Soccer with Nashville SC. The defender is part of a Nashville side that won the 2026 Supporters’ Shield, and his selection gives Pochettino another option on the defensive side. This will be his first senior camp, with the opportunity to make his international debut against Haiti.

Castañeda, meanwhile, earns recognition for his development in Germany with SC Paderborn. The midfielder has progressed through the American youth national team pathway and now receives his first opportunity to work with the senior squad. His inclusion adds another young option to a midfield group that also features Tyler Adams, Sebastian Berhalter, Gio Reyna, Malik Tillman and McKennie.

Both players will be looking to make the most of the opportunity and potentially earn their first senior caps during the November window.

The return of three major names is another significant element of the roster. Pulisic is back after missing the previous window while recovering from the leg injury he suffered during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Balogun also returns to the squad, while McKennie is once again available after being absent from the September and October matches.

The group also retains several of the young players who featured in the previous camp, including Cavan Sullivan, Julian Hall, Justin Ellis, Mathis Albert and Adri Mehmeti. Their continued presence reflects Pochettino’s effort to balance established international experience with opportunities for emerging talent.

The full 25-player roster includes three goalkeepers, nine defenders, eight midfielders and five forwards.

The United States will face Haiti in a home-and-away quarterfinal series for a place in the 2026-27 Concacaf Nations League semifinals. The first leg is scheduled for November 14 at Nu Stadium in Miami, with Haiti designated as the home team. The return match will take place on November 17 at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.

The winner will advance to the Nations League Finals in March 2027 and secure qualification for the 2027 Concacaf Gold Cup.

For Pochettino, the series represents the next competitive test for the USMNT as the team continues building toward the 2030 FIFA World Cup cycle. For Baker-Whiting and Castañeda, it is the beginning of a new opportunity to establish themselves at the international level.