USMNT November Camp Preview: Reyna In, Musah Out, and a Look Ahead to Paraguay and Uruguay | OneFootball

Mauricio Pochettino named a 25-man roster that will be without Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie for two key World Cup warm-ups against Paraguay and Uruguay in mid-November. Here’s what we can expect. 

The United States men’s national team prepares to finish 2025 and begin the stretch run to the FIFA 2026 World Cup against two very strong opponents who have qualified for next summer’s tournament: the resurgent Paraguay on November 15, and two-time World Cup winners Uruguay on November 18.

It will be a duel of Argentine coaches as Paraguay is managed by Gustavo Alfaro, who has completely turned around the Paraguayan national team program during his tenure. Mauricio Pochettino will then face his mentor and former Argentine national team coach Marcelo Bielsa against Uruguay, where Bielsa has led a generational change for La Celeste.

Among the 25-man squad, there are notable absences: Chris Richards, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, and Noahkai Banks all stay in Europe. The biggest absence is Christian Pulisic, who will remain in Milan as he returns from injury. Despite rumors of a weekend return against Parma, it appears that once again — to their detriment — U.S. Soccer reached a deal with AC Milan to keep the Rossoneri’s best player in Italy.

The notable returns are the Borussia Mönchengladbach duo of Gio Reyna and Joe Scally. Here is a roster breakdown and a preview of the USMNT’s two upcoming matches.

Tale of the Tape for the USMNT

At first glance at the most recent squad, there are some notable names and omissions — but more on that later. The reality is that Pochettino seems to want to give final opportunities to players he still considers valuable options for 2026.

He is also allowing some core players to stay with their clubs. Pulisic, Richards, and McKennie, all absent from this camp, appear to be locks for next summer. The Argentine manager has found a system that best suits the USMNT in recent friendlies: a three-man backline. However, Antonee Robinson’s health is becoming a concern.

Overall, look for this roster to continue in the 3-4-3 approach, with Ricardo Pepi and Folarin Balogun most likely each getting a start in one of the two games. In goal, the position now seems to be Matt Freese’s to lose.

Who’s In

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The notable “new” arrivals are Scally and Reyna. Scally has played as well as one can for a Borussia Mönchengladbach side that has been dreadful in the Bundesliga. He seems to be getting rewarded for his club performances and appears to be out of the “doghouse” for the national team. Reyna, meanwhile, has had mild form at best with his club and may be getting one of the few chances he’ll receive based on his reputation.

The return of Auston Trusty is a surprise — and a sign that Pochettino is still searching for center backs he can rely on. John Tolkin is also an interesting addition, with the fullback in superb form for Holstein Kiel.

All eyes will be on Pepi. Pochettino will finally have the chance to evaluate the PSV striker up close and with a proper system in place. Pepi continues to be a poacher’s poacher and could turn the wheel further if he maintains his scoring with the USMNT.

Who’s Out

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Musah’s stock seems to have dipped, especially given the play of Aidan Morris and Tanner Tessmann — and it’s telling that Musah is now being omitted for players like Sebastian Berhalter.

Banks appears to be off the radar this window, but it’s expected as Pochettino may still favor more experience in the back line. The 18-year-old has shown promise for Augsburg, and he’ll have plenty of time to make his mark on the national team level.

Matt Turner continues to see his chances of regaining the No. 1 spot evaporate. His play at the start of the next MLS season will be crucial for his national team future.

The biggest worry remains Antonee Robinson, who continues to struggle with knee issues — but if healthy, he is a roster lock alongside Pulisic, McKennie, and Richards.

Preview vs. Paraguay

Alfaro’s work with Paraguay has been nothing short of remarkable. He’s given the team an identity and has gotten the most out of his top players. Paraguay’s recent tour in Asia did not go well (a 2-2 draw with Japan and a 2-0 defeat to South Korea), but before that, Alfaro’s side had only lost to Brazil in his 14 games in charge.

Alfaro favors a 4-2-3-1 setup, with Miguel Almirón, former Inter Miami midfielder Diego Gómez, and Hugo Cuenca forming a strong midfield. However, the team struggles up front — Paraguay has never scored more than two goals under Alfaro, something he will need to improve as La Albirroja heads to the World Cup.

Even without Pulisic, Robinson, and McKennie, the USMNT should — and needs to — defeat an opponent like Paraguay if they expect to go far in 2026.

Expect a tight contest but one the U.S. should ultimately break down if they are serious about their World Cup hopes.

Preview vs. Uruguay

Uruguay is another matter entirely. Bielsa’s side also has scoring challenges — but the Uruguayans play like a finely tuned machine. The USMNT will struggle to break down La Celeste, who have kept 14 clean sheets in 29 matches under Bielsa.

Bielsa has fully implemented his aggressive 4-3-3 system, but Uruguay’s traditional defensive identity remains strong. Uruguay is expected to bring its full roster barring injuries — expect Federico Valverde, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Giorgian de Arrascaeta to all be present, with Darwin Núñez possibly missing the camp due to injury.

Overall, Bielsa has led a generational change in Uruguay. Despite some hiccups and scoring issues, if they solve their attacking struggles they are legitimate contenders for a deep run at next year’s World Cup.

Uruguay remains a better team than the United States. The teams last met in the USMNT’s ill-fated 2024 Copa América. Before that, they drew 1-1 in 2019 and 0-0 just before the 2022 World Cup.

This will be a very telling match for Pochettino’s side — one where the U.S. must show it can hang with a team widely expected to make noise at the next World Cup.

The November window will answer a lot of questions about the USMNT. It’s not just another window — it’s a statement about where the Pochettino era stands.