Pulisic and Balogun return to USMNT for Haiti Nations League tie

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 4 Nov, 21:46 · Archive

Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun return to the U.S. men's national team for a CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Haiti next month.

Mauricio Pochettino has recalled Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Weston McKennie to the U.S. men's national team for the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Haiti. The squad, named on Wednesday, will compete in its first meaningful competition since the World Cup, where the Americans exited following a last-16 defeat to Belgium.

The two-legged series takes place in November, with Haiti hosting their 'home' leg in Miami on 14 November due to security concerns in Port-au-Prince, and the return leg scheduled for Cincinnati on 17 November. The U.S. is heavily favoured to progress in the competition.

Pulisic returns after missing recent exhibition matches whilst recovering from a right tibia and fibula microfracture suffered during the World Cup round-of-16 loss to Belgium. Balogun, who was controversially sidelined at the World Cup following a red-card suspension, missed the friendlies after sitting out Monaco's opening matches following a failed transfer to Everton.

Pochettino said of Balogun: 'It's a great opportunity to keep helping him to evolve after a tough summer, after the World Cup.' He added that he aimed to 'add more options, more players with the possibility to challenge the familiar faces'.

The squad balances established players with youth development. The outlets report different squad sizes (Independent Sport reports 25 players, whilst New York Post and Guardian Football cite 26), though all agree the group includes young prospects including 17-year-old striker Cavan Sullivan and midfielder Mathis Albert, alongside teenagers Julian Hall, Adri Mehmeti, Justin Ellis and defender Neil Pierre. The squad retains roughly half of the 26 players from this year's World Cup, including ten starters from the Belgium match.

How it is being reported

• Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun back on USMNT roster for Haiti clashMauricio Pochettino unveiled his 25-man roster WednesdayIndependent Sport · 4 Nov, 19:42
• Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun return to USMNT roster for Nations LeagueMauricio Pochettino names 26-man roster to face Haiti McKennie and Sullivan among notable inclusions Quarter-final matches set for Miami, Cincinnati Mauricio Pochettino has selected his 26-man roster for the United States’ upcoming Concacaf Nations League quarter-final matches against Haiti, including recalls for Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Folarin Balogun. After 13 players earned their first caps in the previous window, only two selections could be in line for international debuts this month. The two-leg series against Haiti marks the first competitive action for the US since…Guardian Football · 4 Nov, 15:10
• Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun return to changing USMNTChristian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Weston McKennie will return to the U.S. men’s national team for the first time since the World Cup.New York Post · 4 Nov, 15:07

In this story: Christian Pulisic · Folarin Balogun · Weston McKennie · Mauricio Pochettino · Haiti · United States · USMNT

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log