USMNT roster for September, October 2026: Official list for games vs. Peru, Chile, Mexico, and Canada

The United States men's national team will officially put the 2026 FIFA World Cup behind it and begin looking ahead to 2030 as they contest four friendly matches across late September and early October.

The fall international break, extended to encompass four games against Peru, Chile, Mexico, and Canada across two weeks, will mark the start of the next four-year cycle.

After an exciting run through the tournament on home soil this past summer, which concluded with a disappointing defeat to Belgium in the Round of 16, Mauricio Pochettino has signed on again to continue leading the USMNT squad.

This first international camp contains a significant number of uncapped youngsters, as Pochettino has temporarily sidelined many notable regulars in favor of individuals who have proven themselves talent for the future. Most notable is the inclusion of wonderkid Cavan Sullivan, with the 16-year-old starring for the Philadelphia Union ahead of an eventual move to Manchester City.

The Sporting News brings you a look at how the first roster of the 2030 World Cup cycle looks now that it has been officially unveiled.

MORE: Cavan Sullivan's electric form, swagger has him on precipice of USMNT debut call-up

USMNT roster for September, October 2026 friendlies

Pochettino called in 28 players for the September and October friendlies against Peru, Chile, Mexico, and Canada. The normal size of the roster is 26, but with four matches in this window instead of the usual two, he has decided to bring a few extra players to spread out the load, account for injuries, and take advantage of the extra minutes.

Below is the confirmed roster for the U.S. men's national team for the coming fall international break, which was announced Thursday, September 16.

MORE: A very early look at who could make the USMNT roster for the 2030 FIFA World Cup

Confirmed USMNT roster for September, October 2026

* Late addition to the roster as an injury replacement

Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie to miss out with injuries

Likely to be absent from the roster are international stars Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie who are dealing with fitness issues.

Pulisic missed the early part of AC Milan's season with a slight injury, according to head coach Ruben Amorim, and while he's finally being worked back into the lineup, he is unlikely to be risked by Pochettino having returned so recently.

McKennie, meanwhile, has missed the last three league games for Juventus with an undisclosed muscle injury, and while it's not believed to be serious, he's almost certainly going to be given the international break to rest up.

Also absent from selection this international window is Haji Wright who has missed the start of the Premier League season with Coventry City due to a quad injury sustained in preseason that is likely to keep him out up to three months.

Patrick Agyemang is still sidelined with the Achilles tear he suffered back in April and will not be included. Cameron Carter-Vickers has returned to action from his own Achilles tear back in November and is available for selection if called upon. Diego Luna is out for a number of months with a knee injury suffered recently and misses his chance to get redemption for being left off the World Cup roster. Ricardo Pepi was named to the initial roster, but had to withdraw after suffering an injury in PSV's final match before the international break, replaced by Damion Downs.

One interesting name who is included is Yunus Musah, who has been a fixture in the AC Milan starting lineup under Ruben Amorim to begin the 2026/27 season and has been given a lifeline back into the USMNT picture, according to Doug McIntyre of Fox Sports. The 23-year-old has 47 international caps for the United States, but fell out of the pecking order under Pochettino in the lead-up to the World Cup.

Notable healthy regulars who have been left at home for this set of matches include Folarin Balogun, Tim Weah, and Brenden Aaronson, all of whom were on the 2026 World Cup roster but are — at least temporarily — pushed aside to make room for a laundry list of uncapped youngsters.

MORE: How Julian Hall is keeping his love for soccer while developing at New York Red Bulls

Cavan Sullivan leads USMNT young prospects

16-year-old sensation Cavan Sullivan has earned his first senior call-up in this international window, first reported by Jeff Carlisle of ESPN and eventually included on the official roster.

The Philadelphia Union forward is in electric form at the moment, scoring five goals in his last five MLS matches, having worked his way into a regular starting role for the club in mid-May.

Sullivan has been a highly touted prospect for some time now in the United States, having already signed and sealed a future move to Premier League giants Manchester City once he turns 18 and can legally complete the transfer. However, this year is his first as a regular at the senior club level, and as he continues to conquer the U.S. domestic scene, Pochettino is likely to come calling sooner rather than later.

Pochettino has already tried to pump the brakes on the Sullivan hype, saying that the teenager's "arrogance" should be toned down some, but given his league form and place within the USMNT setup as a massive prospect, it would be silly not to reward his recent play with a first senior call-up.

19-year-old Zavier Gozo, a late acquisition by Premier League club Crystal Palace who has made just three substitute appearances thus far with his new English side, is also included on the list. Gozo was excellent earlier in the year for Real Salt Lake, which saw a late push for his first international cap at the World Cup trumpeted by MLS fans. Still, it is a surprise that Gozo was called in given he has only just joined his new club and has yet to make a significant impact, with Pochettino often claiming that players who joined new clubs could be left to build relationships with their new staff and teammates during the international break.

Another young player joining the list of uncapped players is Sullivan's Philadelphia teammate Neil Pierre. The towering 18-year-old defender was brought back from his loan to Norwegian side Lyngby BK in early July and he almost immediately locked down a starting role, proving not only a capable defender but also a monster in front of goal on set-pieces, scoring four goals since debuting. The 6-foot-5 center-back could be another prospect for the future that looks ready to get his first cap now.

According to Steven Goff of Yahoo Sports, other young or uncapped players who have gotten the call include Diego Kochen, Brian Schwake, Mathis Albert, Frankie Westfield and Justin Ellis. Exciting young New York Red Bulls duo Julian Hall and Admir Mehmedi have also been called up, the former being notable as he has not yet committed his future to either the United States or Poland just yet.

MORE: Why the 2026 fall international break is extended from two matches to four in 2026

How to watch USMNT friendlies vs. Peru, Chile, Mexico, Canada