Sat Oct 11 00:50:00 UTC 2025: **USMNT Focuses on Cohesion as 2026 World Cup Looms**

**By Steve Birrer**

**October 9, 2025** – With the 2026 World Cup on home soil just around the corner, the USMNT is shifting its focus from experimentation to building a cohesive unit, according to Coach Mauricio Pochettino. Having automatically qualified as co-hosts, the team missed out on valuable competitive matches typically found during the qualification process.

Pochettino stated, “The time for experimenting is over,” emphasizing that future roster selections will prioritize the best available players ready to form a strong team. The October roster announcement signals this shift.

The team has secured a strong preparatory schedule, including upcoming matches against Ecuador, Australia, Paraguay, and Uruguay. More games are likely to be added next spring.

Several key players are missing from the current camp due to various reasons: Tyler Adams is awaiting the birth of his child, Sergino Dest is recovering from an injury, and Gio Reyna is sidelined with another injury. Yunus Musah’s absence is attributed to form, while Joe Scally’s exclusion remains a topic of debate.

The coaching staff now faces critical decisions regarding formation, primarily choosing between a 4-3-3 and the 3-5-2 formation utilized in the last window. This choice impacts roster selection and the specific skills required from players in different positions.

The USMNT will face Ecuador on October 10 in Austin, Texas, followed by a match against Australia on October 14 in Commerce City, Colorado. Both matches will be broadcast on TNT and Peacock.

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