In years past, the U.S. men’s national team coaching staff would have the chance to assess players during a January camp, often with friendlies for North American-based players. In 2026, though, manager Mauricio Pochettino and U.S. Soccer opted otherwise, prioritizing European club form and focused MLS preseasons.
While some of the top USMNT players like Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun struggled to produce over the weekend, several fringe players stood out as they sought more significant opportunities in the national team picture.
