The 2025 U23 Pool Thread

It's fun to think about a lineup for the Olympics. If the USMNT isn't involved in the Copa America in 2028, I think they could get the best overage players they want. For guys like Pulisic, he has enough leverage within Milan to get a release.

I think this would be fun

--Pulisic*--Pepi*---Gozo
-------Cavan-------Cremaschi--
--------------Adams*---
-Bombino--Banks--Wynder--Westfield
-------------Kochen-----------

The hang-up is Banks. If Banks is with Germany, then you might have to take away the overage spot from Tyler or Pepi and bring in an overage CB like Richards.

 

The way things are going with Hall and Mehmeti and with Banks questionable I might flip Pepi and Adams for Richards and either Jedi or Dest as the overage guys.

 

I don’t see that happening, to be honest. For a few reasons.

first, I like the age eligible fullbacks on both sides. Westfield and Bombino are good. I like the philosophy of using overage players to supplement weak areas of the team where the age-eligible options are not really future options for the full national team. I think the current age eligible fullbacks might turn out to be national team quality, and I would like the Olympics to be there for their development.

Second, I stated this over at the Yank Abroad forum, but I have my doubts about Robinson‘s long-term health with his knees. I think things are coming together for him to take part in the World Cup, but barely. After this World Cup, I am not sure what his international future is going to be if he wants to prolong his club career. I would not want to deny Bombino this opportunity for someone who is at the tail end of his international career.

Mehmeti is actually eligible for the following Olympics. It is way too early to think he will be ready in two years for the current Olympic team

Hall? You might be right about that. Although, I still think it is very early here to talk about that, and I think he should focus on the U-20s.

Pulisic, Adams, & Richards would be a home run selection for overage picks. The whole issue right now is whether the United States participates in the Copa América in 2028

 

As you said the biggest question will be what happens with the Copa America which is up in the air.

I also agree that Richards and Pulisic seem most likely to be the first two picks in terms of overage guys.

I agree with you on Jedi that physically who knows where he’s going to be but I do feel like if he’s healthy he or Dest are huge upgrades at fullback (and given the limited roster spots useful to have a guy like Dest who can play both sides so I’d probably take him first).

As for Mehmeti he just seems like he may be on the fast track where there’s no way you’ll be able to justify keeping him off by the time 2028 rolls around.

Obviously this is all super speculative given we are two years out.

 

If you're going with age-eligible options, maybe the best XI right now at the start of the cycle is something like this:

-----Miller------Hall-----Gozo----
---------------Tsakiris---------
------Cremaschi---Raines---
--Bombino--Norris-Wynder-Westfield
-----------------Kohen-------

I am sure Albert will sneak into there sooner than later.

While Miller and Gozo are age-eligible for the 2027 U-20 team, they might focus on the Olympic team from the get-go. Hall, Albert, Sullivan, Mehmeti all seem like U-20 guys for 2027 with the Olympics coming after that.

There are a bunch of concerns I with the age-eligible options for the U-20 team.

First, central defense needs more experience. Wynder seems like he is picked no matter what he is doing for his club. It reflects a lack of options in the backline. Norris seems like a very good utility player for the Olympic team.. not a starter but a guy who can backup everywhere.

At this point, at least 1 overage spot needs to be used in central defense, assuming Banks is out. This was clear last cycle and it's clear this cycle. The good news is that last cycle it was clear 2 overage spots would need to be overage. This cycle, it might only be one.

Second, I am not sure who the No. 8 and No. 6 players will be. Raines, Cremaschi are options from the last U-20 cycle and they are favorites to make the Olympic team. But there really needs to be some defensive bite. If not Adams, it should be someone like him.

Third, Hall is off to a strong start with RBNY but when I watch him, I think of Balogun and the USMNT. He's very good at the club level, but there is so much chemistry he has with his club teammates who train with him everyday. So many of his goals are scored by teammates knowing how to get him the ball facilitated by how their understanding of how he moves in the box. That chemistry he has with his Monaco teammates is great and (people often forget), it took a long time to develop. It took him a long time to be an impact player for Monaco.

Pepi is a great goal scorer who thrives in a lot of different environments. He reads the game more than his teammates read him. He gets on the end of crosses for headers (something I don't see much from Hall or Balogun), he creates shots on his own, he pounces on rebounds and broken plays, he outmuscles defenders.. To me, that type of player seems more likely to replicate club success to the international game.

With Hall, I am just unsure if he is going to have the necessary chemistry with his U-23 teammates that he has with RBNY.

 

Looking at the U-23 player pool, there are a few general thoughts I have before the Olympic cycle begins.

In terms of this discussion, I am not including U-23 players who are obviously going to play with the U-20 team this cycle and might come to the U-23s after that (guys like Burnell, Hall, Mehmeti, Dos Santos, Shore, Sullivan, Albert, Terry, H. Miller, etc). I am talking about players pegged for the Olympic team right now.

With that said, first thing is that it's been awful this season from the abroad contingent - nearly across the board.

Cole Campbell is having a terrible season. BVB doesn't want him, shipped him to Hoffenheim on loan and it is providing nothing. This comes on the heels of a disappointing U-20 WC.

Josh Wynder has dealt with injuries, but he hasn't played enough this season to progress.

Benja Cremaschi had a terrible loan with Parma and his season ended with an injury. It remains to be seen if he goes back to Miami or if another loan (back to Parma?) is negotiated. But not good.

Noahkai Banks might have left the U.S. program.

I guess you could say Gavin Beavers did well in his limited appearances at Brondby, but it is tough to monitor goalkeepers who are not playing much with the first team. You can include Diego Kochen as well.

In MLS, the U-23 cycle has been much better. A few players not seen as "stars" of this age group have impressed the most.

Niko Tsakiris has always been talked about as a high prospect, but now he is finally living up to it. When Bruce Arena likes a specific young player, it's good for the player (I thought Esmir was a good example). Niko is like that here.

I think Brooklyn Raines started off the season slowly after making the move to New England, but he's been really good the last five games.

Matthew Corcoran has taken some big jumps and is playing for a VERY good Nashville team. It's not easy to play there and he doesn't always start. But he looked very good at times, such as over the weekend in a 4-2 win over Charlotte.

Nolan Norris has also been raising his game early in the MLS season for Dallas. I wasn't sure where his career was going in 2025, but he's hitting his stride in 2026. Not sure he is a starter for the Olympic team, but he can be a very good backup in a bunch of positions.

Luca Bombino didn't play as much as he would have wanted at the last U-20 World Cup and he is dealing with a knock for SDFC right now, but he had some big moments early in the season.

Peyton Miller and Zavier Gozo are eligible for the U-20 team but I would list them as U-23 players now and I would say both have really impressed (Miller in limited minutes). I think you would have to like where both players are right now - the prospect for minutes is excellent with coaches who believe in them. Gozo looks like he's going to have a high pricetag come this summer.

Of course, there are some concerns

I still like Frankie Westfield, and I think he can start for the Olympic team at right back. But it's been harder for him with Philadelphia struggling. That is not his fault, but it makes it harder for him to stand out.

Luke Brennan is stuck in the mess that is Atlanta and you'd wish Tata would shake things up more and play him.

Pedro Soma is up and down for SDCF. At this point, I don't think he's making the Olympic team. I was expecting more from him, TBH.

Duran Ferree is up and down. Some big saves, and some bad moments too this year. Still, it's great for a young keeper to get minutes. But I am not convinced.

Overall, it's a good starting point.

 

It was always harder for Frankie to make the biggest jumps in 2026 because he essentially made the biggest jumps in the entire U-20 player pool last year in 2025. Two straight years of big jumps is rare.

After you make the big jump, it's about finding ways to maintain that level and fight through the adversity you didn't face during your breakout. He's essentially still ahead of the curve, he's just dealing with the hard times now that guys breaking out this year will face in the future.

I still think Westfield is the starting right back to start the Olympic cycle (which begins this fall).

Overage picks depend entirely on whether the USMNT plays in the Copa America in 2028. It's as simple as that.

 

Frankie Westfield injured. Hope it’s not bad

Tough to see this after Frankie was in clear pain. We’re all crossing our fingers that he’s ok #doop

📸 : @BenBrecher18 pic.twitter.com/so7p0P5eoF

— Mike Barrera (@mbarrera1323) May 10, 2026

 

I'm biased to Union homegrowns but I love Frankie. Think he has a real chance to be better than Freeman or Scally in the next year or two.

Also pretty reckless by Yow on Frankie's injury but he looked better sitting on the bench later in the game.

 

I think he very well could be a good backup for those guys. Maybe even overtake Scally, but he’s only like a year or year and a half younger than Freeman. He’s only three years younger than Scally. He’s so far behind those guys when it comes to how advanced his career is.

I think that’s asking too much of him. A right footed Tolkin is probably his ceiling.

 

Oscar Pareja would interesting as Olympic coach............................................

Presumably we'd need to hire a Matt Crocker replacement first?

As far as the players on this squad go, there are a lot of options and not many spots.
We kind of have a beginning of an idea of the "soft spots" within the U23 pool that may need the overage players.

Player selection (both U23 and overage) may depend on whether we're playing Copa America 2028.
The host of that hasn't been selected, but the US is still a candidate.

 

Freeman?!?!

 

If we don’t end up in Copa America with no need to qualify I wonder if whoever the senior team coach is doesn’t just take the Olympic team. Especially since we’d push for top of the pool overage players in that circumstance.

 

Here’s the roster

The #U21MNT will travel to Slovenia for friendlies against Ukraine and Uzbekistan this month 🇺🇸

ℹ️ https://t.co/L6aao9o8Vr pic.twitter.com/S8tuMAiakD

— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) May 31, 2026

No Cavan, Hall, Mehmeti, or Gozo.

 

Huh. That seems weird.

I hope that means the younger 3 are heading over for training with their parent clubs, and Gozo is near a move.

 

Yeah though Red Bull and Man City aren’t really doing much training right now themselves.

 

Alan Carleton and Oluwakorende Osundina seem like VERY weird choices. We don't have anyone better than bit players in the Swedish 2nd division/bottom of the Portuguese League, respectively?

At least players like Pukstas are starters in a lower league.

 

Where late-teens are starting? 2007? 2008? 2009?

 

I don't really understand what you are saying.

Are you simply saying they won't earn calls with the senior team?

We're past the Bradenton days. We're getting into having a massive youth pool of players with professional instruction. There's going to be a lot of kids who are in the really broad youth pools focused on two birth years who never make a much smaller pool across 12-15 birth years, which is what the senior team is.

And there's going to be kids who develop early, or for other reasons get passed before the senior team becomes an option. There will be more and kids like say, Chris Gloster, who never got a senior team cap and almost certainly never will despite starting at a U20 WC.

Is that simply what you are saying, or is there something about the kids specifically here?