Pochettino picks USMNT squad for Nov 2025 friendlies vs. Paraguay, Uruguay

With just two more dedicated international windows before the start of World Cup camp begins next summer, the United States men's team contests a pair of November friendlies against Paraguay and Uruguay.

A few key members of the USMNT player pool are dealing with injuries, including Christian Pulisic, but a few are also likely to return to the fold as the final matches of 2025 play out.

PSV duo Ricardo Pepi and Sergino Dest are fit and in good form for their club and have been called back in, set to take the field for the first time in months.

Uruguay, who the U.S. Will play on Tuesday, November 18 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, are ranked 15th in the world and present the most obvious challenge. Thirty-ninth-ranked Paraguay, however, will come first as they visit Chester, Pennsylvania on Saturday, November 15 for a match at Subaru Park.

MORE: Predicting the USMNT roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

USMNT Nov 2025 Squad

Mauricio Pochettino has called in 25 players for the November international break for matches against Paraguay and Uruguay, one fewer than the 26 players for the October friendlies against Ecuador and Australia. It's possible he secures a late addition to bring the total back to 26, but that has not been confirmed.

Pulisic has been left off the roster due to recent injury problems, while a few other USMNT regulars have also been given the international break to rest and recouperate. Some MLS players, such as Diego Luna and Alex Freeman, will not have played a match for a number of weeks as their teams have been eliminated from postseason contention.

Below is the roster for the USMNT in the November international window, which was officially announced on Thursday, November 6.

USMNT 2025 roster preview

*Caps correct as of November 6, 2025

Pulisic, Richards out of USMNT November squad

After suffering a hamstring injury in the October international window with the United States, Christian Pulisic has been given the November break off to rest.

Pulisic was in electric form to begin the season with AC Milan, and Pochettino revealed in October that the U.S. Star had been playing through a persistent ankle issue since preseason. Then, he sustained muscle damage in the match against Australia, and has been missing for much of the time since.

While Pulisic is expected to return for Milan just before the international break arrives, reports in Italy claimed that the club and U.S. Soccer were in communication about a plan for his recovery that involves leaving him off the November roster.

This was also true for defender Chris Richards, who has blossomed into a mainstay along the back for the United States. Despite playing regularly for Crystal Palace and not publicly carrying an injury, he has been rested for the November international break.

This comes with some sacrifice, as there are precious few international windows remaining before the 2026 World Cup — two, in fact; just November and March are all that's left. Yet at this point, Pochettino has decided the health of his star players is of paramount importance compared to gaining valuable playing time in the lead-up to the tournament.

Weah, Tillman, Robinson, Zendejas injured

Injured USMNT stars who have been rested for the international break include Tim Weah, Malik Tillman, Antonee Robinson, and Alex Zendejas.

Robinson has been injured since the summer when he had surgery on his knee, and he has failed to return for Fulham in any meaningful capacity since. He was called in to the October international roster but subsequently withdrew, and has been missing since. As one of the most important members of the U.S. Player pool, it is essential that "Jedi" returns soon and logs minutes before the World Cup.

Tillman sustained a thigh injury during the October international break and has yet to appear for Bayer Leverkusen since. The initial announcement gave a timeline of two weeks for the 23-year-old to return, but he was still not able to pass fit for their November 1 defeat to Bayern Munich. He has since returned to training, however, and it does appear that he may recover in time to be available for the USMNT in November.

Like Tillman, Zendejas also suffered an injury during the most recent USMNT camp, removed from the roster before the match against Ecuador. He has been absent from the three subsequent Club America matches and is unlikely to recover in time.

Weah has missed the last two matches for Marseille with a dead leg. While he has returned to training, he was left off the roster and given time to recover.

Also dealing with an injury is Cameron Carter-Vickers, who has missed a pair of games for Celtic with an Achilles issue, but after logging zero minutes in the October window, it was unlikely he would be called back in even if healthy. Jack McGlynn, who Pochettino has confirmed on a number of occasions is high up on his depth chart, is still likely out due to a foot injury suffered late in the season with the Houston Dynamo.

Gio Reyna back with USMNT

22-year-old Gio Reyna has been called back into the U.S. National team for the first time since March, aiming to secure just his second international cap since the 2024 Copa America.

Now on loan with Borussia Monchengladbach, Reyna has still been unable to break into a regular role at the European level, earning just one start and making four more substitute appearances totaling 131 minutes as of November 6.

Yet with injuries to Christian Pulisic, Malik Tillman, and Tim Weah, there was room to give Reyna the opportunity to be in national team camp. He will now have the opportunity to impress Mauricio Pochettino and prove that he can be an option for the USMNT despite not receiving regular club minutes.