Julian Hall Among Wave of Young Talent Called Up as Pochettino Prepares to Unveil Revamped USMNT Roster

Julian Hall, an 18-year-old academy product of Red Bull New York, has been named to the U.S. men’s national team squad for the program’s first friendlies since the World Cup, according to CBS Sports sources. The call-up makes him one of several rising talents stepping into the fold as the player pool undergoes a significant generational transition.

Hall, who has recorded 12 goals and three assists in 27 appearances across all competitions this season with RBNY, has previously represented the U.S. at the U-15 and U-17 levels but has never been included in a senior national team camp. He remains eligible to represent Poland through his mother, and that status will not change even if he earns his first caps this fall, as FIFA rules do not cap-tie players until they have appeared in official competition.

Hall will be joined by Red Bull New York teammate Adri Mehmeti, as previously reported by Fox Sports, while sources have also confirmed that Philadelphia Union players Cavan Sullivan and Neil Pierre will be part of the roster. Sullivan’s selection was first reported by ESPN, while Yahoo Sports broke the news of Pierre’s inclusion.

Pochettino has stated that he plans to name a 26-player squad for the fall friendlies, including four goalkeepers. The roster is expected to skew dramatically young, with other reportedly targeted players including goalkeeper Diego Kochen, defenders Peyton Miller and Frankie Westfield, midfielders Matias Albert and Brooklyn Raines, and forwards Zavier Gozo and Justin Ellis. All of those players are 21 or younger, while 25-year-old goalkeeper Brian Schwake is also in contention for his first cap.

Goalkeeper Matt Freese, who started for the USMNT at this summer’s World Cup, and midfielder Yunus Musah, a regular starter in 2022, are also expected to be included when Pochettino announces the roster on Thursday.

Star forward Christian Pulisic is unlikely to feature, as he continues to recover from the microfracture injury to his leg sustained during the World Cup. Pulisic has made two substitute appearances for AC Milan to begin the season, including his first outing in a 2-2 draw with Lazio on Saturday in which he provided an assist.

Pochettino hinted last week that he would summon several uncapped players as the long build-up toward the 2030 World Cup takes shape, characterizing the upcoming friendlies as a “new start” for the USMNT. He noted that the current player pool stands at approximately 100 players, encompassing a generation that could prove to be among the most gifted ever to represent the United States.

“I think our idea [is] we are going to do a mix [of] experienced players,” Pochettino said last week. “I think experienced players with young players that can fit together and start to work and how the young kids start to manage the pressure to play in the first team [in the] very next games … It’s tough, but I think it’s important now to have this pool of a lot of players because I think players can evolve from one month to another, six months, one year and it’s important to keep that connection.”

The USMNT will resume play with four friendlies this fall, beginning against Peru on Sept. 26, followed by a match against Chile on Sept. 29. The team will then face Mexico on Oct. 3 before concluding the window against Canada on Oct. 6.

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