Pochettino's roster for the upcoming friendlies features an average age of 19 years and six months, with notable exclusions including Christian Pulisic, who has only recently returned to the field for Milan after suffering a leg fracture at the World Cup, and Folarin Balogun, who has still yet to appear for Monaco this season. The onus of leadership now falls on others on the roster, such as Ricardo Pepi, who will be shepherding a crew of teenagers up front, or even Sebastian Berhalter and Malik Tillman, who may be tasked with leading the youth revolution in midfield. FC Cincinnati center-back Miles Robinson, at 29 years old, has turned into the squad's elder statesman.
Pochettino's decision to bring in a young squad is not only about evaluating their skills as players but also about instilling his preferred values in them. The US manager has made it clear that mentality is everything, and he is looking for players who can commit to representing the country in the way fans deserve. This fresh start for the USMNT is set to begin with a series of friendlies, starting with a match against Mexico in Phoenix, Arizona.