Overview
- Mauricio Pochettino reiterated that every selection must be earned, stressing that even established names cannot assume a place on the World Cup roster.
- Gio Reyna was recalled for the November friendlies with a clear directive to demonstrate maturity and meet team behavior standards after limited club minutes this season.
- With key regulars out, the staff is using the Paraguay and Uruguay matches to evaluate depth and professionalism, including roles for fullbacks in a 3-4-2-1 setup.
- By mutual agreement with AC Milan, Christian Pulisic stayed in Italy to prioritize hamstring recovery, telling CBS Sports it was “time now to fully care for myself.”
- Pulisic has been reintegrated at club level, wearing the armband and scoring in a Nov. 14 Milan friendly arranged to build fitness following his recent injury.