Mikey Varas, an assistant coach for the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT), will take the reins as interim coach for the upcoming exhibition matches against Canada and New Zealand. As of now, there has been no formal announcement regarding Mauricio Pochettino’s potential appointment to replace Gregg Berhalter.
In a strategic move, Varas has assembled a 24-man roster that features promising talents such as Diego Kochen, a goalkeeper from Barcelona’s youth system, and Marlon Fossey, a defender from Standard Liege, both of whom are yet to make their debut for the national team. This selection reflects Varas’s commitment to integrating fresh talent into the squad.
The roster will be missing several key players due to injuries, including right back Sergiño Dest, midfielder Tyler Adams, and winger Tim Weah. Additionally, defenders Antonee Robinson and Cameron Carter-Vickers, along with midfielder Weston McKennie, have opted to remain with their respective clubs.
The U.S. team is set to face Canada on Saturday in Kansas City, Kansas, followed by a match against New Zealand three days later in Cincinnati. These games are crucial for Varas as he leads the team in this transitional phase.
Varas brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously coached the U.S. under-20 team from November 2021 until August 2023. Under his guidance, the team clinched the 2022 CONCACAF title, securing the U.S. men’s first Olympic berth since 2008, and reached the quarterfinals of the 2023 Under-20 World Cup.
The U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) had planned for Varas to lead the team during these September fixtures. Notably, two of Berhalter’s former assistants, Anthony Hudson and B.J. Callaghan, also served as interim coaches last year.
Among the roster, six players did not participate in the recent Copa América: Kochen, Fossey, goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, defenders Auston Trusty and Caleb Wiley, and midfielder Aidan Morris. This indicates Varas’s focus on fostering new talent.
The selection process also saw eight players dropped from the squad, including goalkeeper Sean Johnson and defenders Miles Robinson and Shaq Moore, as well as Carter-Vickers, Antonee Robinson, Adams, McKennie, and Weah.
Goalkeeper Matt Turner was included in the roster after a loan move from Nottingham Forest to Crystal Palace. Turner, who has been a key player for the U.S. in recent years, lost his starting position at Forest earlier this year.
Ethan Horvath, another goalkeeper on the roster, faced criticism after a costly mistake led to a goal in a recent match against Burnley. This highlights the challenges Varas will face in solidifying the team’s defensive lineup.
[Related: USMNT transfer roundup: Matt Turner, Auston Trusty complete Deadline Day moves]
In his selections, Varas opted for Schulte and Kochen over Colorado’s Zack Steffen, who has not played for the national team since March 2022. Schulte and Tim Ream, who recently transferred to Charlotte from Fulham, are the only MLS players on the roster.
Tyler Adams is recovering from back surgery, while Sergiño Dest will be sidelined until next year due to a torn ACL. Tim Weah sustained a hamstring injury during Juventus’ Serie A opener.
Weston McKennie remained with Juventus for preseason training, Cameron Carter-Vickers is healing from a toe injury with Celtic, and Antonee Robinson is recuperating after undergoing two surgeries.
Gianluca Busio is also nursing an injury, while Tanner Tessmann has recently transferred to Lyon after a limited preseason with Venezia.
Nico Estévez, who was previously the head coach of Dallas, will serve as an assistant coach, while Jack Robinson, the USSF’s head of goalkeeping, will take charge of the goalkeepers.
[Related: U.S. men’s team will win World Cup ‘at some point,’ says David Beckham]
