USA Coach Mauricio Pochettino Waits On Noahkai Banks — And Warns Cavan Sullivan

Mauricio Pochettino’s first U.S. men’s national team roster since the World Cup will be young, but it won’t include 19-year-old German-American defender Noahkai Banks. Pochettino on Monday said during a video conference with reporters that he’s been in contact with Banks in the two months since the USA was eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup by Belgium in the round of 16, but that the Hawaii-born center-back still hasn’t decided whether to represent the Stars and Stripes or four-time World Cup champ Die Mannschaft. “Noahkai didn’t change his mind and is waiting — still no decision, and of course we cannot consider him for the next camp,” Pochettino said ahead of stateside exhibitions against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada later this month. But the Argentine coach, who signed a new four-year contract with the U.S. Soccer Federation last month, indicated that the squad, which he said would include around 26 field players and four goalkeepers, will mix members of the World Cup roster with promising newcomers who could play a big role during qualifying for the 2030 World Cup — and at the main event itself. Perhaps the most interesting name potentially in the mix is 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan, who has starred for the Philadelphia Union since MLS returned from its World Cup break in mid-July. Sullivan has scored in each of the Union’s last three games. On a recent episode of Alexi Lalas’ State of the Union podcast, Sullivan said he believes he could’ve helped Pochettino’s side against Belgium. “I think I could come into that game on the right side and make a difference,” he told the FOX Sports analyst and former USA defender. “You have to believe in yourself; you have to think you can help your team win. “It’s not my team yet,” Sullivan added. “But I’m obviously always dreaming and hoping call-ups.” Although Pochettino didn’t mention Sullivan by name, he seemed to allude to the interview when specifically asked about Philadelphia’s cache of youngsters. Quinn Sullivan, Cavan’s older brother, and Nathan Harriel both played for the U.S. in 2025, while defenders Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield are quickly emerging as two of the promising young players in the program. “We are very happy about to have all these potential good players,” Pochettino said. “Only we need to be careful, no? We need to be careful, because when you are young, of course, you need to be confident, you need to have the trust in yourself and belief that you can perform and you can do well. “But the thing is, there is a limit,” he continued. “The balance is the most important, and one of our responsibilities is to protect these guys because sometimes if you play well and you are 17, 16 or 18, people start to talk about that you are Messi or you are a big star in the world because you do some few good things. “That can be dangerous for your career, and that is what we don’t want,” Pochettino added.  “I say you only are entitled to talk a little bit out of order if you are Messi. If you win eight Ballon d’Ors, you can talk with a certain arrogance, but even Messi, you are never going to hear him talking in this way.” Another teenager who could receive his first senior team invite is Crystal Palace forward Zavier Gozo. Pochettino included Gozo, who scored six goals in 16 games for Real Salt Lake before transferring to the Premier League side this summer, on his 55-player provisional World Cup roster but not the final 26. But other Americans who recently moved from MLS to England could be allowed to skip FIFA’s new extended September-October window as they adapt to a new club environment, Pochettino said, noting that 2026 World Cup veterans like Middlesbrough’s Max Arfsten and Sebastian Berhalter are known quantities at this point. With the Steve Cherundolo-coached U.S. under-23 team idle until November, Pochettino will have access to as many youngsters as he wants. But he also wants to win. The U.S. is 0-2 against chief rival Mexico under the former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain manager, and also lost to Canada — led by American Jesse Marsch — in the 2025 Concacaf Nations League finals. “I think we cannot bring a whole squad of young players,” he said. “They need to have next to them some guys with experience already.”