USMNT Unveils Experimental Roster for 2025 Friendlies

As of November 16th, 2025, the United States men's national team (USMNT) is set to conclude their 2025 plans with a pair of friendly matches against Paraguay and Uruguay. The first clash will be against Gustavo Alfaro's Paraguay side in Pennsylvania on Saturday, marking the first meeting between the two teams since a pre-tournament friendly ahead of the 2018 World Cup.

The USMNT had a productive double-header in October, drawing with Ecuador and defeating Australia 2-1. Coach Mauricio Pochettino will be hoping to build on those performances as he begins fine-tuning preparations for next year's World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States.

However, Pochettino will have to make do this month without several key players, including captain Christian Pulisic, forward Tim Weah, midfielders Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie, and Premier League defenders Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson. This presents an opportunity for a number of younger and less experienced players to stake a claim for selection in the squad for the 2026 tournament.

Pochettino's roster for the November friendlies is described as somewhat experimental, with the four-man goalkeeper group having a combined total of only 14 senior caps. The coach is expected to persist with a back-three formation, which could see the returning Sergino Dest deployed as a right wing-back. Additionally, natural right-back Joe Scally has been given the chance to win the third center-back job.