Pulisic and Balogun Return as Pochettino Names 25-Man US Squad for Nations League Quarterfinals Against Haiti

ATLANTA — Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun are back in the United States squad. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino named a 25-player roster on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, for the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals against Haiti, recalling both forwards for the first time since the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The two-legged tie will be the United States' first official competition of the 2030 World Cup cycle. The Americans, chasing a fourth Concacaf Nations League title, will face Haiti on November 14 in Miami before hosting the return leg on November 17 in Cincinnati, with a place in the semifinals at stake.

Illustration: Two United States forwards celebrate a goal together, as Pulisic and Balogun return to the national team for the Nations League quarterfinals.

What Happened

According to U.S. Soccer, Pochettino will bring 25 players to the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center for a training camp ahead of the quarterfinals. The announcement, made on November 4, 2026, marks the start of a new cycle for a team that now turns its attention from the home World Cup summer to the road toward 2030.

Pulisic, the AC Milan forward, and Balogun, of AS Monaco, headline the returning names. Midfielder Weston McKennie, of Juventus, also returns for the first time since the World Cup, U.S. Soccer said. The three had missed the team's friendlies in September and October — against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada, according to Reuters — and their recall restores much of the attacking core that carried the United States through the summer.

The numbers underline their importance. Pulisic arrives with 90 caps and 33 goals for the United States, while Balogun has 31 caps and 12 goals, according to the roster published by U.S. Soccer. The 25-player squad averages 24 caps, and ten of its members — Tyler Adams, Balogun, Sergiño Dest, McKennie, Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Malik Tillman and Auston Trusty — have been part of at least one Concacaf Nations League title-winning side.

"We are excited to bring this group together at the beginning of our journey in this important competition," Pochettino said in a statement published by U.S. Soccer.

Background

The United States enters the tie as the higher-ranked side, sitting 16th in the world against Haiti's 84th, according to theScore's report on the roster announcement. But the format leaves little room for comfort: the quarterfinal is decided on total goals across the two legs, and the winner advances to the Nations League semifinals, scheduled for March 22-30 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Balogun's return also closes a turbulent chapter. Reuters reported that the Monaco forward's summer included controversy over FIFA's decision to suspend his one-game red-card ban at the World Cup, as well as a failed transfer to English side Everton. His recall suggests that episode is now behind him, at least in Pochettino's plans, and that the coach values his pace and finishing as the United States rebuilds its attack.

Pulisic, meanwhile, remains the team's reference point in attack. At 28, and with more than 90 international appearances, he is both the squad's most experienced forward and its captain in all but name on the biggest occasions. His club form with AC Milan has kept him at the centre of Pochettino's plans, and his return alongside Balogun gives the United States two very different kinds of threat: Pulisic's dribbling and delivery from wide areas, and Balogun's direct running through the middle.

The roster also shows Pochettino's balancing act between experience and renewal. Alongside the returning World Cup veterans, the five forwards named include Justin Ellis of Orlando City, Julian Hall of Red Bull New York and Cavan Sullivan of Philadelphia Union — young attackers who made their first appearances during the past window, according to U.S. Soccer. Eight MLS players are included in the 25-man training camp roster, MLS reported, and theScore noted that the squad included 19 players who had featured in the September and October friendlies, alongside half of the 26 players Pochettino took to this year's World Cup.

Illustration: A national team coach leads a training session, as Pochettino blends World Cup veterans with young players for the new cycle.

Why It Matters

The Haiti tie is more than a routine quarterfinal. It is Pochettino's first competitive test of the new cycle, and the first chance to judge how the United States handles the transition from World Cup hosts to World Cup chasers. A convincing aggregate win would confirm that the core of the summer squad remains intact and motivated; a stumble would raise early questions about depth, focus and the integration of younger players.

For Haiti, the tie is a rare opportunity. Ranked far below the United States, Haiti will play its designated home leg not at home but at Nu Stadium in Miami, after Concacaf approved the move — a switch linked to ongoing security concerns in Haiti, according to MLS. That removes one of the usual advantages of a two-legged tie, but it also puts Haiti in front of a large diaspora crowd in South Florida, where support could be loud and partisan.

The Nations League itself matters to both teams beyond the trophy. For the United States, it is the first silverware available in the new cycle and a staging post toward the 2030 World Cup. For Haiti, reaching the semifinals in California would be a landmark achievement and a statement about the growth of Caribbean football. The total-goals format also rewards attacking intent: an away goal, or a strong first-leg performance, can shape the entire second leg in Cincinnati.

There is also a practical question for Pochettino: how quickly can the returning stars slot back in? Pulisic, Balogun and McKennie have been away from the national team setup for months, and the September-October friendlies gave other players a chance to stake claims. The training camp in Georgia, followed by the short trip to Miami, is designed to rebuild those connections quickly — but chemistry, especially in attack, is rarely restored in a single week.

What Happens Next

The schedule is now fixed. The first leg takes place on Saturday, November 14, at Nu Stadium in Miami, with kickoff at 4:30 p.m. ET. Three days later, on Tuesday, November 17, the United States hosts the second leg at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, kicking off at 7 p.m. ET.

The winner on aggregate advances to the Nations League semifinals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, from March 22-30. For the United States, that would keep alive the pursuit of a fourth Nations League title; for Haiti, it would be a historic breakthrough.

Between now and kickoff in Miami, attention will turn to the training camp: who starts alongside Pulisic and Balogun, whether McKennie anchors the midfield, and how many of the young forwards earn minutes. Pochettino has kept faith with a familiar core while opening the door to new faces — and the Haiti tie will be the first competitive answer to whether that blend works.

Illustration: A packed stadium under floodlights, as the United States and Haiti prepare for their two-legged Nations League quarterfinal.

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FAQ

When do the United States play Haiti?

The first leg is on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Nu Stadium in Miami (4:30 p.m. ET), and the second leg is on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati (7 p.m. ET).

Why are Pulisic and Balogun back in the squad?

Coach Mauricio Pochettino recalled both forwards, along with Weston McKennie, for the first time since the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after they missed the September-October friendlies against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada.

How many players are in the US squad?

Pochettino named a 25-player training camp roster, averaging 24 caps, including eight MLS players and ten players who have won at least one Concacaf Nations League title.

What happens if the United States beat Haiti?

The winner of the two-legged, total-goals quarterfinal advances to the Concacaf Nations League semifinals, scheduled for March 22-30 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Why is Haiti's home leg in Miami?

Haiti's designated home leg will be played at Nu Stadium in Miami after Concacaf approved the move; MLS reported the switch was linked to ongoing security concerns in Haiti.

Sources

• Reuters, "Pulisic, Balogun back in US squad for CONCACAF Nations League quarters," November 4, 2026.
• U.S. Soccer, "USMNT Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino Names 25-Player Training Camp Roster for Concacaf Nations League Quarterfinals Against Haiti," November 4, 2026.
• theScore, "Pulisic, Balogun, McKennie back on U.S. roster for Nations League quarters," November 4, 2026.
• MLS, "USMNT roster: 8 MLS players called for Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals," November 4, 2026.