The USMNT January roster, led by World Cup veterans Tim Ream and Walker Zimmerman, showcases a strong contingent primarily composed of MLS talent for the upcoming friendlies against Venezuela and Costa Rica.
Tim Ream, the experienced defender and captain, headlines a squad of 24 players that includes fellow World Cup participants Jesús Ferreira, Shaq Moore, and Walker Zimmerman. Notably absent are European stars like Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah, who are tied to club obligations. This situation arises because the January matches fall outside the FIFA international window, meaning clubs are not required to release their players for national duty.
With MLS currently in its offseason, Pochettino’s coaching staff has strategically selected the best American players from the domestic league.
In a press release, Pochettino expressed enthusiasm about working with this new group, stating, “MLS is very important to the national team project, and these players have earned this opportunity.” His commitment to integrating homegrown talent reflects a growing trend in U.S. soccer.
CF Montreal and the Columbus Crew lead the roster with three players each. One notable inclusion is winger Matko Miljevic, who, while currently a free agent, previously played for Montreal. His contract was terminated after he was found to have participated in a local amateur league under an alias.
Miljevic, 23, was born in Miami but raised in Argentina, where he last played for Newell’s Old Boys, a team previously managed by Pochettino. The U.S. coach witnessed Miljevic’s talent firsthand when he scored during a match last November.
The friendly against Venezuela is set for January 18 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, followed by a match against Costa Rica in Orlando on January 22.
Here’s the complete roster:
Goalkeepers: Drake Callender (Inter Miami), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids)
Defenders: Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), George Campbell (CF Montreal), DeJuan Jones (Columbus Crew), Shaq Moore (FC Dallas), Jalen Neal (CF Montreal), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)
Midfielders: Benjamin Cremaschi (Inter Miami), Emeka Eneli (Real Salt Lake), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union)
Forwards: Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC), Caden Clark (CF Montreal), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas), Brian Gutiérrez (Chicago Fire), Matko Miljevic (Unattached), Indiana Vassilev (St. Louis City), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Miljevic is among ten players aiming to earn their first senior international cap this month. The January camp has long served as a valuable opportunity for emerging talent, often leading to future selections for the full national team. This year’s camp is no exception, as it continues to shape the future of U.S. soccer.
Historically, many players from this January camp have gone on to achieve significant milestones, including five members of the USMNT’s 100-cap club, who made their initial appearances during this period. Moreover, nine of the 26 players selected for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar were also introduced in January camps, highlighting the importance of this training ground for national team prospects.
The USMNT holds a favorable all-time record against Venezuela, with three wins, one loss, and two ties. However, their most recent encounter in 2019 resulted in a defeat. The Americans will also look to improve their standing against Costa Rica, a team they last faced in a World Cup qualifier, where they suffered a 2-0 loss, despite holding a slight edge in their overall series with 19 wins to Costa Rica’s 17, along with six ties.
