The US men’s national team (USMNT) is set to face Chile in an international friendly on Tuesday night at St. Louis CITY SC’s Energizer Park, kicking off at 8 pm ET. This match follows a convincing 4-1 victory over Peru on Saturday.
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During the game against Peru, the USMNT saw debut goals from Julian Hall of Red Bull New York and Justin Ellis of Orlando, while Philadelphia Union's Cavan Sullivan made his debut as one of the youngest players in USMNT history. Mathis Albert from LA Galaxy's academy also played a role by drawing a penalty shortly after joining the match. In total, 11 players earned their first caps against Peru.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino praised the young squad, noting their calm demeanor before the match and confidence in their abilities. He remarked, "We have a group of young players, but they're confident in their qualities... they are very humble outside, but in the training or when they arrive at the competition, they are very confident in themselves."
Pochettino has selected 13 MLS players for the 28-man roster, including eight who are 21 years old or younger. starters against Peru included Ellis, Sullivan, and Peyton Miller of the New England Revolution.
As the team embarks on the 2030 World Cup cycle, Pochettino expressed excitement about the energy and ambition of the younger players. "They showed that, with time and being smart in the way that we manage them, they can be very important for our national team," he stated.
After the matchup with Chile, the USMNT will face regional rivals Mexico on October 3 and Canada on October 6, presenting further opportunities to establish their presence in Concacaf. Tim Howard, a USMNT legend, highlighted the collective growth of the young squad, asserting that while not all players may succeed, several will quickly develop together.
The upcoming match against Chile offers the USMNT a chance to build on their recent success and make a statement in international football.