Five USMNT strikers—Damion Downs, Cole Campbell, Justin Ellis, Julian Hall and Cavan Sullivan—will be assessed by Mauricio Pochettino in four friendlies against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada. They have six combined caps and no international goals.
Ricardo Pepi was initially selected but was injured and replaced by Downs. The four-match slate spans 11 days: Peru in Orlando on Sept. 25, Chile in St. Louis on Sept. 29, Mexico in Glendale, Arizona, on Oct. 3, and Canada in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Oct. 6. Qualifying for the 2030 World Cup begins in 2028.
Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun, who played at the 2026 World Cup, were left off the 28-man roster. Pochettino said he will mix veterans and younger players and base appearances on readiness; he called Sullivan, 16, ready. Sullivan has seven goals and 12 assists in 24 MLS games for Philadelphia, and a US debut would make him the USMNT’s second-youngest player.
