Julian Hall has waited his whole career for a moment like this. The 18-year-old academy graduate from Red Bull New York is about to make his first appearance for the senior U.S. men’s national team, and the call-up signals a generational shift at the top of American soccer.
CBS Sports sources say Hall will be named to the USMNT squad for their first friendlies since the World Cup, joining a roster that skews remarkably young. The teenager has scored 12 goals and added three assists in 27 games across all competitions this season with RBNY, and his inclusion marks the start of a new chapter for the national team.
Hall’s Road to the Senior Team
Hall grew up in the Red Bull New York academy system, and his rise has been steady but slow. He has represented the U.S. at the U-15 and U-17 levels, but this fall will be his first taste of the senior team. The call-up comes after a breakout campaign with RBNY, where his goals have helped define a season full of promise.
His performances have caught the eye of Mauricio Pochettino, the manager who has overseen a deliberate rebuild of the national team’s player pool. Pochettino has spoken publicly about his intention to blend experienced veterans with young talent, and Hall fits squarely into that plan.
The timing is significant. The USMNT plays four friendlies this fall, starting with a clash against Peru on Sept. 26 and then a match-up against Chile on Sept. 29. They follow that with a meeting against Mexico on Oct. 3 and conclude the window by facing Canada on Oct. 6. These matches offer Pochettino a chance to test his ideas before the road to the 2030 World Cup truly begins.
The Young Core of the Squad
Hall will not be the only teenager on the field. Sources indicate that the roster will include a number of players under 21. The list includes goalkeeper Diego Kochen, defenders Peyton Miller and Frankie Westfield, midfielders Matias Albert and Brooklyn Raines, and forwards Zavier Gozo and Justin Ellis.
Each of those players is 21 and under, which means the average age of the squad could be remarkably low. That is a deliberate choice by Pochettino, who has spoken about building a deep pool of talent for the future.
Pochettino said last week that he would call up 26 players for the fall friendlies, including four goalkeepers. The squad is expected to skew incredibly young, with the younger players learning to handle the pressure of international play alongside established names.
Experienced Names Return
The youth movement does not mean experience disappears entirely. Goalkeeper Matt Freese, the USMNT’s starter at this summer’s World Cup, is expected to be named to the roster when Pochettino names it on Thursday. Midfielder Yunus Musah, a starter in 2022, is also expected to be included.
Both players bring a level of familiarity to the group. Freese was reliable throughout the World Cup, and Musah has been a consistent presence in the middle of the park. Their inclusion alongside the younger players creates a bridge between the current generation and the next.
Pulisic’s Absence
Not everyone from the World Cup squad will return. Star Christian Pulisic is unlikely to make the roster as he returns to full fitness following an injury-plagued tournament. The injury ended when he sustained a microfracture in his leg, and the recovery process has kept him out of recent action.
Pulisic has made two appearances off the bench for AC Milan to start the season, the first coming on Saturday in a 2-2 draw with Lazio during which he notched an assist. His absence from the fall friendlies is notable, as he remains one of the most recognisable faces in American soccer.
The Generational Shift
Pochettino’s comments last week made the direction clear. He described the upcoming friendlies as a “new start” for the USMNT, and he spoke about the depth of the player pool.
“I think our idea [is] we are going to do a mix [of] experienced players,” Pochettino said last week. “I think experienced players with young players that can fit together and start to work and how the young kids start to manage the pressure to play in the first team [in the] very next games … It’s tough, but I think it’s important now to have this pool of a lot of players because I think players can evolve from one month to another, six months, one year and it’s important to keep that connection.”
The manager’s vision is simple: a squad that blends the wisdom of older players with the energy of younger ones. That balance is crucial for a team looking ahead to the 2030 World Cup, where the competition will be fierce.
What Comes Next
The fall friendlies are a testing ground. Pochettino has said the player pool currently stands at around 100 players, which includes a generation of players competing to be some of the most talented to represent the U.S. men’s team. The four matches this fall will give him a chance to see how the younger players perform in pressure situations.
For Hall, the stakes are personal. This is his first opportunity to wear the senior team’s jersey, and his performances over the next few weeks could influence his path forward with the national team.
The call-up is a reward for years of work in the academy. Now the real test begins.
The Bottom Line
The USMNT’s fall friendlies are a statement of intent. By naming a squad that leans heavily on young talent, Pochettino is signaling that the future is now. Players like Hall, Kochen, Miller, Westfield, Albert, Raines, Gozo and Ellis are getting their chance to prove themselves on the biggest stage.
The elder statesmen — Freese and Musah — provide continuity. But the core of the squad is being built from scratch, with players who have yet to earn their first caps. That is a bold move, and it carries risk. But it also carries ambition.
The matches against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada will be closely watched. The performances of the young players will shape the conversation around the USMNT for months to come.
For Hall, the journey began in the academy. It continues now, with the senior team calling his name.
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