USMNT roster prediction: a big chance for Cavan Sullivan and other young prospects

Goalkeepers picked by Pablo: Matt Turner (New England Revolution), Brian Schwake (Nashville SC), Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Diego Kochen (Lyngby).

Goalkeepers picked by Jeff: Turner, Schwake, Kochen, Andrew Thomas (Seattle Sounders).

Related: Pochettino's promise to be 'different' with the US team raises questions some people would rather not ask.

Maurer: This is probably the easiest position on the field to guess, but that’s not necessarily a good thing. Turner will likely keep his starting spot for now. But Kochen, who is 20 years old and playing well, seems likely to get some minutes this window. Pochettino has said he wants to use this window to give experience to several players hoping to make the Olympic team. I would be surprised if Schwake isn’t involved too. He has played very well for the team expected to win the Supporters’ Shield. Last week, Pochettino mentioned Nashville when talking about young talent coming through. Schwake, at 25, doesn’t quite fit that description, though American goalkeepers often tend to be a bit older than usual. Other than that, I have no idea who else Pochettino could be talking about.

Rueter: Turner is the only one of the three World Cup goalkeepers to return, because of his strong record in MLS. He leads all goalkeepers with 10.7 goals prevented, according to FotMob. Andrew Thomas (9.6) and Brian Schwake (8.2) are second and fourth in that stat, playing for Seattle and Nashville. Both are in their mid-20s and offer alternatives to Matt Freese, having had success at club level. Thomas helped win the Leagues Cup final against Lionel Messi's Inter Miami, and Schwake helped Nashville win the U.S. Open Cup. Brady's positioning has not been strong with Chicago. Diego Kochen started the World Cup as a training goalkeeper, and he is now playing regularly on loan with Lyngby.

Defenders named by Maurer: Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Neil Pierre (Philadelphia Union), Justin Che (Red Bull New York), Auston Trusty (Celtic), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Tim Weah (Marseille), Max Arfsten (Middlesborough), and Peyton Miller (New England Revolution).

Rueter named: Tristan Blackmon (Vancouver Whitecaps), Luca Bombino (Stoke City), Alex Freeman, Neil Pierre, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, and Tim Weah.

Related: The USMNT will play Mexico and Canada in friendly matches to start the 2030 World Cup cycle.

Rueter: Robinson (left) and Freeman (right) should start this cycle as the expected first-choice players on their sides of the defensive line. The backup choice for each side also depends on where each player is in his career. Robinson is 29, so a younger backup should be found soon. My choice is Luca Bombino, who earned a move to Stoke City after his breakout season with San Diego FC. Bombino has played comfortably as a left back in a back four. He is reliable in his positioning and creates fewer scoring chances than most modern wide defenders. Freeman is the younger option, so a more experienced backup makes sense here. Marseille captain Tim Weah should stay part of this core group, despite a disappointing World Cup. All of his starts this season have come as the right back in a back four.

At the center of defense, Richards begins this cycle as the clear defensive anchor, and Auston Trusty performed well this summer. Tristan Blackmon had a hard time adjusting during a quick learning period in September, but he has kept playing at a high level as the top defender for a Vancouver Whitecaps team that controls the ball for most of each game.

Maurer: Ream is the oldest player in USMNT history to play in a World Cup. It might seem easy to leave him off this roster, and future ones. But he has said he will not retire from international soccer until he retires completely, and Pochettino clearly values him. I also think he will be a useful mentor for players like Miller, Pierre and Che as they get used to the national team. Pierre's composure on the ball is still questionable, which could be a problem since Pochettino likes to play a certain way. But a 6ft7in, 18-year-old prospect will likely be hard to resist for a program that badly needs help at central defense.

Midfielders Maurer: Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Middlesbrough), Adri Mehmeti (Red Bull New York), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough), Yunus Musah (Milan), Gio Reyna (Strasbourg), Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union)

Rueter: Tyler Adams, Sebastian Berhalter, Gianluca Busio (Venezia), Adri Mehmeti, Aidan Morris, Yunus Musah, Gio Reyna, Cavan Sullivan, Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen), Niko Tsakiris (San Jose Earthquakes)

Related: Man City-bound 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan is MLS’s chaotic revelation

Maurer: Over the past two months, Sullivan has gone from being a maybe, to a certainty, to looking like someone who could help the US team right away. However, I disagree with his claim that he would have made a difference against Belgium – sorry, kid. His comments, and Pochettino’s later response to them in the media (though he didn’t mention Sullivan by name), convinced me of one thing: Pochettino is watching him and may be giving some early guidance to a very useful player. Musah has become a regular player for Milan this season, largely because of the club’s injury problems in other positions. I would love to see him keep up this form, and I would welcome him back.

Rueter: McKennie has not been able to play because of injury. Adams has slowly taken on more playing time early in Bournemouth's season, and he has a clear job at the base of midfield. Still, it may be smart to limit his minutes. Mehmeti, who is 17, is coming in to learn from Adams, though his style of play in defensive midfield is much less physical.

Busio has done well since returning to Serie A. He is now the captain of Venezia at age 24. He is good on the ball and moves freely across midfield to affect the game, and he can also play the final pass. These skills make him a good option for the free-roaming role that Tillman played well this summer. Tillman was arguably the team's best player at the World Cup, and his assist for Leverkusen's equalizer this weekend showed that he is still worth building play around. Sullivan has arguably been the best player in MLS, regardless of age or nationality, since play resumed in July. Tsakiris was one of MLS's standout players before he got injured in late spring, and his ability to create chances would help this group of players.

Forwards Maurer: Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Zavier Gozo (Crystal Palace), Julian Hall (Red Bull New York), Ricardo Pepi (PSV), Christian Pulisic (Milan)

Rueter: Folarin Balogun, Sergiño Dest (PSV), Zavier Gozo, Julian Hall, Ricardo Pepi, Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union), Alex Zendejas

Related: In Zavier Gozo, Crystal Palace land a US prospect living up to the hype

Maurer: We have not yet seen Balogun play this year at Monaco. Still, he seems almost certain to be included. I feel for him, and I want to see him do well with the US team after his move to Everton fell through, along with all the drama that came with it. Hall, who used to be the player many US fans were most excited about, has been a bit less impressive this year at Red Bull. This may be understandable, since he is still a teenager. Even so, he remains a promising player and seems very likely to be picked for the Olympics if he stays healthy.

Rueter: Yes, I omitted Christian Pulisic, who is still slowly getting back to involvement at Milan. More time to train under Amorim and get back to fitness ought to be the priority. Dest was again a liability in defense at a World Cup, this time most glaringly against Belgium, and keeping him further upfield may be necessary for a team with a thinner defensive corps.

Gozo is a skilled ball-handler who can create his own shot from wherever he gets the ball. He is a natural fit for the less crowded right wing position. At 19 years old, he could offer more scoring threat from wide areas than Pochettino has had so far in his time as coach. Quinn Sullivan is not just here because he is his brother's keeper. The 22-year-old was one of Pochettino's best players at the Gold Cup and was hoping to make the World Cup squad before he tore his ACL in September. He is already helping Philadelphia's attack.

Pepi still scores goals regularly for PSV, who are the top team in their league. However, his performances for the national team are still not very good, except for his ability to hold the ball up well.