Mauricio Pochettino has called 27 players into the United States men’s national team for a final pre-World Cup camp, setting up a pair of marquee friendlies designed to sharpen his group before he locks in his tournament roster.
The US will play Belgium on Saturday 28 March (3.30pm ET) and Portugal on Tuesday 31 March (7pm ET), with both matches taking place in Atlanta. The camp is widely viewed as Pochettino’s last extended look at his pool before the World Cup squad is announced later this summer, raising the stakes for fringe contenders and positional battles across the pitch. Those details, along with the roster size and schedule, were reported in the original squad update. Source.
Two notable absences headline the selection: midfielder Tyler Adams and attacker Diego Luna, both unavailable due to injury. Their omissions not only impact depth, but also reshape the evaluation window for players competing for minutes in central midfield and the attacking rotations. Source.
⚽ Key Insight
What’s at stake in Atlanta
Friendlies rarely carry the pressure of competitive qualifiers, but the opposition and timing ensure these fixtures will feel closer to tournament rehearsals than routine tune-ups. Belgium and Portugal provide contrasting problems: Belgium’s blend of physicality and vertical play can stress defensive spacing and second-ball reactions, while Portugal’s technical quality and tempo often punish teams that lose compactness between the lines.
For Pochettino, the window is a chance to test cohesion and combinations in near-World Cup conditions—game planning, rotation decisions, and in-match responses against elite-level opponents. For players, it’s a final audition: a strong cameo can elevate a standing; a shaky outing can leave a decision-maker with doubts.
Infographic: Camp snapshot
Roster size: 27 players
Matches: Belgium (Sat 28 March, 3.30pm ET) | Portugal (Tue 31 March, 7pm ET)
Location: Atlanta
Notable injuries: Tyler Adams, Diego Luna
Context: Final camp before World Cup squad decision
How injuries shift the conversation
Adams’ absence is significant given his value as a ball-winner and tempo-setter in midfield. Without him, the US may use this window to experiment with alternative profiles—whether that means a more conservative screening midfielder, a double-pivot look to share defensive responsibilities, or a more progressive build-up option to help break pressure. Luna’s injury similarly opens opportunities higher up the pitch for players aiming to provide creativity between the lines or a direct threat in transition.
Beyond individuals, these matches should reveal how quickly the squad can adapt tactically. That adaptability—switching shapes, managing game states, and sustaining intensity—often separates a solid international side from a World Cup-ready one.
Key Takeaways
- Pochettino selected 27 players for the USMNT’s final pre-World Cup camp. Source
- The US will face Belgium and Portugal in Atlanta on 28 and 31 March, respectively. Source
- Tyler Adams and Diego Luna miss out through injury, creating openings for others. Source
- The friendlies double as auditions for players on the edge of the World Cup cut.
With the World Cup squad announcement looming, Atlanta becomes more than a stop on the calendar—it’s a proving ground. Against two heavyweight opponents, the US can measure its ceiling, identify its weak points, and, crucially, give Pochettino the final evidence he needs before committing to his definitive list for the summer.