Grab Some Pine Pull up a bench. Bay Area sports, Michigan, and a model or two.
October 27, 2026
Eli Guerrero, USMNT desk
USMNT desk

Eli Guerrero

The men's national team as a ledger of minutes: who is playing for their club, who is not, and what that does to the next squad. A player who is not on the field in October is not in the squad in November.

When he files: Weekly, and every FIFA window.

The full masthead entry →

3Held up
3Missed
2Still open

6 calls resolved. Too few for a hit rate to mean anything, so there is not one.

Every call, graded

OpenOct 7, 2026

Matt Freese is the starting goalkeeper for the United States in the first leg of the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal against Haiti on 2026-11-14. Scored off the federation's published Starting XI for that match. It resolves yes if Freese is the goalkeeper named in the eleven; it resolves no if any other goalkeeper starts, including if Freese is not named in the squad, is not dressed, or comes on as a substitute.

Resolves in 18 days, Nov 15, 2026

The piece that made itSchwake made it four goalkeepers in four wins, and Freese has 45 minutes
OpenOct 15, 2026

Mark McKenzie is named on the United States roster for the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal against Haiti (November 14 and 17, 2026). Scored off U.S. Soccer's roster announcement for the November window, including any player added before the first leg on 2026-11-14. It resolves yes if McKenzie is on that roster at any point before the first leg; it resolves no if he is not named, or is named and withdrawn before the roster is announced.

Resolves in 17 days, Nov 14, 2026

The piece that made itMark McKenzie has not missed a Toulouse minute. Pochettino has seen that before.
Held upSep 19, 2026

A center back other than Chris Richards, Miles Robinson and Auston Trusty starts at center back for the United States in at least one of the four fall friendlies (Peru 09-26, Chile 09-29, Mexico 10-03, Canada 10-06). Scored off the published starting elevens. Resolves yes if any other player is one of the starting central defenders in any of the four; resolves no if every central-defensive start across all four goes to those three.

The piece that made itBanks chose Germany. The U.S. lost a center back who plays every minute.
MissedSep 19, 2026

At least five of the eleven players who start for the United States against Peru on 2026-09-26 are drawn from the thirteen uncapped players named in the federation's 2026-09-17 roster notes (Mathis Albert, Cole Campbell, Justin Ellis, Zavier Gozo, Julian Hall, Diego Kochen, Adri Mehmeti, Peyton Miller, Neil Pierre, Brooklyn Raines, Brian Schwake, Cavan Sullivan, Frankie Westfield). Scored off the published starting eleven for that match. Resolves yes at five or more of those thirteen in the eleven; resolves no at four or fewer.

The piece that made itThe minutes explain why Pulisic is out, but not why Weah is
Held upSep 24, 2026

At least ten of the thirteen uncapped players on the United States fall roster (Mathis Albert, Cole Campbell, Justin Ellis, Zavier Gozo, Julian Hall, Diego Kochen, Adri Mehmeti, Peyton Miller, Neil Pierre, Brooklyn Raines, Brian Schwake, Cavan Sullivan, Frankie Westfield) win a first senior cap across the four friendlies against Peru (09-26), Chile (09-29), Mexico (10-03) and Canada (10-06). A cap is any appearance, as a starter or a substitute, in the official match report. Resolves yes at ten or more, no at nine or fewer, including where a player withdraws from camp before appearing.

The piece that made itThirteen first caps fit in four friendlies. Thirteen auditions do not
MissedOct 1, 2026

At least nine of the eleven players who start for the United States against Mexico on 2026-10-03 held a senior United States cap before the fall window opened, meaning they are not among the thirteen players the federation listed as uncapped on 2026-09-17 (Mathis Albert, Cole Campbell, Justin Ellis, Zavier Gozo, Julian Hall, Diego Kochen, Adri Mehmeti, Peyton Miller, Neil Pierre, Brooklyn Raines, Brian Schwake, Cavan Sullivan, Frankie Westfield). Scored off the federation's published Starting XI. Yes if nine, ten or eleven starters are outside that list; no if eight or fewer are.

The piece that made itDoes Mexico get the eleven Pochettino has not started yet?

The work, newest first

Mark McKenzie has not missed a Toulouse minute. Pochettino has seen that before.
The back line

Mark McKenzie has not missed a Toulouse minute. Pochettino has seen that before.

Mauricio Pochettino used five center backs across the four fall matches: Chris Richards, Auston Trusty, George Campbell, Neil Pierre and Miles Robinson. Richards is the fixed point. Since the window closed, Trusty was an unused substitute in Celtic's first league match back, Campbell was unused in West Brom's and then started at Wrexham, Pierre started both of Philadelphia's league matches, and Robinson left Cincinnati's win at Atlanta in the 72nd minute with a leg injury and missed the next match. Mark McKenzie, who was not in the 28, has started all six of Toulouse's Ligue 1 matches, 540 of 540 minutes, and joins Pierre at the Philadelphia Union in January. The United States plays Haiti in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal on November 14 and 17.

Eli GuerreroOct 15, 20264 min read
The MLS wild card is the night after Haiti, and five of the 28 are in the race
Americans in MLS

The MLS wild card is the night after Haiti, and five of the 28 are in the race

Orlando City (34 points), Red Bull New York, New York City FC and FC Cincinnati (33 each) hold seventh through tenth in MLS's Eastern Conference with seven league matches left, eight for Cincinnati. Five of the 28 players from the U.S. fall window play for those clubs. Seventh goes straight into the playoffs' first round; eighth and ninth play a single elimination wild card on Wednesday, November 18, hosted by the higher seed. The United States plays the second leg of its Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal against Haiti at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati on Tuesday, November 17. Freese has played 2,340 of New York City FC's 2,430 league minutes and 45 of the 360 in the window. Hall has 2,198 of Red Bull New York's 2,430 and 209 of the 360. Ellis, with 1,313 of Orlando's 2,430, has a right lower-leg contusion from the Canada match.

Eli GuerreroOct 8, 20264 min read
Schwake made it four goalkeepers in four wins, and Freese has 45 minutes
USA 1, Canada 0

Schwake made it four goalkeepers in four wins, and Freese has 45 minutes

The United States beat Canada 1-0 at Allianz Field in St. Paul on October 6. Justin Ellis scored in the 29th minute from Alex Freeman's cross, and Brian Schwake made three saves in his first start. That finished the fall window at four wins from four, with 12 goals, two clean sheets and all 28 players capped. Four different goalkeepers started the four matches. Matt Freese, who was in goal when the World Cup ended against Belgium, played 45 of the 360 minutes and was not dressed against Canada. Freeman, Auston Trusty, Malik Tillman and Gio Reyna took the most minutes, and Reyna was the only player to start all four. The Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal against Haiti is November 14 and 17, and Ellis is being evaluated for a lower-leg contusion.

Eli GuerreroOct 7, 20264 min read
The U.S. beat Mexico 3-0 with Kochen in goal and Freese on the bench
USA 3, Mexico 0

The U.S. beat Mexico 3-0 with Kochen in goal and Freese on the bench

The United States beat Mexico 3-0 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on October 3, with goals from Julian Hall, Cavan Sullivan and Malik Tillman. Jeff Carlisle of ESPN reported that Mexico had 60 percent of the ball in the first half, and all three goals followed Mexico errors. Mauricio Pochettino started eight players who held a cap before this camp and three who did not: Diego Kochen in goal, Hall at striker and Sullivan beside him. Kochen played the first full match any goalkeeper has played in this window, while Matt Freese, who was in goal when the World Cup ended against Belgium, was an unused substitute and has 45 of 270 minutes. Damion Downs, the one forward capped before camp, has 19. Canada is next on October 6 in St. Paul, and the Nations League quarterfinal follows in November.

Eli GuerreroOct 4, 20264 min read
Does Mexico get the eleven Pochettino has not started yet?
Mexico

Does Mexico get the eleven Pochettino has not started yet?

The United States play Mexico at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on October 3, the third of four matches in this window. A federation source told ESPN's Jeff Carlisle the team has to beat Mexico, while Mauricio Pochettino has described the camp in terms of the next World Cup. Through Peru and Chile, Pochettino started eight and then six of the 15 players capped before the window, and Gio Reyna was the only man in both elevens. Twelve of the 15 have started exactly once. Six capped regulars who played in both matches have between 104 and 118 of the 180 regulation minutes, and Chris Richards has 27, so no one is worn down. A strongest eleven can be built from capped players at every position but striker, where four of the five forwards were uncapped when camp opened and the fifth, Damion Downs, has 23 league minutes this season.

Eli GuerreroOct 1, 20264 min read
Tim Ream retired, and the back line that started in St. Louis needed Richards
Chile

Tim Ream retired, and the back line that started in St. Louis needed Richards

Tim Ream, 38, said before the United States played Chile in St. Louis on September 29 that he was retiring from the national team, telling the TNT broadcast that age was the biggest factor, as reported by Jeff Carlisle of ESPN. He finishes with 86 caps. The United States won 4-2 with what the federation called the youngest starting eleven of Mauricio Pochettino's tenure, and Mathis Albert, at 17 years and 131 days, became the youngest scorer in the program's history. Neil Pierre and Miles Robinson started at center back and Chile led 2-1 after 49 minutes. Chris Richards and Auston Trusty replaced them in the 63rd minute, Richards scored the winner, and Chile did not score again. Across two matches of this window the federation has started four different center backs. Richards has played all 450 league minutes of Crystal Palace's season, and he is the one center back in camp whose place looks settled. The open question for Mexico on October 3 is who plays beside him.

Eli GuerreroSep 30, 20264 min read
Thirteen first caps fit in four friendlies. Thirteen auditions do not
The fall camp

Thirteen first caps fit in four friendlies. Thirteen auditions do not

The United States play Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada between September 26 and October 6 with a 28-man roster that the federation's own position list shows holding 13 uncapped players. Under IFAB Law 3, a senior international friendly allows up to eight substitutes, so the bench alone offers 32 appearances across the four matches, and all thirteen could be capped by the end of the Chile match. Starts are the scarce thing: 44 across the window, which splits to 150 minutes per outfield player and one match per goalkeeper if it were shared evenly. The thirteen arrive with very different club minutes. Ten are at half their club's available league minutes or better, and Mathis Albert and Zavier Gozo have 28 league minutes between them. Neil Pierre's 39.7 percent hides that he has played every Philadelphia Union league match since the World Cup break after none before it. Cavan Sullivan, who turns 17 on September 28, started six of the Union's 15 league matches before the break and all 11 since.

Eli GuerreroSep 24, 20265 min read
Banks chose Germany. The U.S. lost a center back who plays every minute.
The switch

Banks chose Germany. The U.S. lost a center back who plays every minute.

Noahkai Banks, the 19-year-old Augsburg center back born in Honolulu and raised in Bavaria, accepted a call-up to Germany's under-21 team on Friday, September 18, and will file the one-time change of association that closes his United States eligibility for good. He played for the U.S. at the 2023 under-17 World Cup and at under-19 and under-20 level, sat in the senior camp in September 2025 without playing, said in February that the first U.S. invite made his choice clear, said on March 1 that he was very torn, declined the March camp, and was left out of the World Cup squad. He has started all four of Augsburg's Bundesliga matches this season and played every minute of the first three. The U.S. roster for the four fall friendlies carries Chris Richards, Miles Robinson and Auston Trusty at center back, and Tim Ream, 38, who started the World Cup round-of-16 defeat, is not on it.

Eli GuerreroSep 19, 20265 min read
The minutes explain why Pulisic is out, but not why Weah is
The fall roster

The minutes explain why Pulisic is out, but not why Weah is

The first United States squad since the World Cup leaves out Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Folarin Balogun, and Pochettino gave a reason for each of the three at his announcement on September 17. Measured against the September 14 pool snapshot, the club minutes back him up at the bottom of the ledger: eleven of the 25 covered players left out are under half their club's available league minutes, against one of the thirteen called. They do not back him up at the top. Six of those 25 are at 90 percent or more, including Timothy Weah, who has started all four of Marseille's league matches and started at Besiktas in the Europa League on the day the roster was named. The squad's average age is 22 years and nine months, more than four years younger than the World Cup roster, which is the selector the minutes actually reveal.

Eli GuerreroSep 19, 20265 min read