The United States men’s national team has received a major boost as Antonee Robinson makes his long-awaited return to international duty. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino named the Fulham defender in his 26-man squad for October friendlies against Ecuador and Australia, marking Robinson’s first call-up in 2025.
Robinson, last season’s U.S. Player of the Year, has been sidelined since undergoing knee surgery in May. His comeback is seen as a crucial addition to the American backline as preparations intensify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
Another key returnee is Weston McKennie, the Juventus midfielder, who joins the squad for the first time since March’s CONCACAF Nations League. Meanwhile, Christian Pulisic leads the attack in outstanding form, having already netted six goals in seven matches for AC Milan this season.
The U.S. will first host Ecuador in Austin on October 10, before facing Australia in Colorado on October 14. These fixtures provide valuable opportunities for testing depth and building chemistry ahead of next year’s tournament.
Notably, Yunus Musah (Atalanta) and Josh Sargent (Norwich City) were left out of the squad. Pochettino declined to comment on their exclusion, stressing respect for the chosen 26 players.
The full squad includes a mix of experienced internationals and emerging talents, with Pulisic, Robinson, and McKennie expected to play central roles in the team’s leadership.
Squad List
- Goalkeepers: Chris Brady, Matt Freese, Patrick Schulte, Matt Turner
- Defenders: Max Arfsten, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alex Freeman, Mark McKenzie, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Miles Robinson
- Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson, Diego Luna, Weston McKennie, Aidan Morris, Cristian Roldan, James Sands, Tanner Tessmann, Malik Tillman
- Forwards: Patrick Agyemang, Folarin Balogun, Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, Haji Wright, Alex Zendejas
