USMNT announces trio of roster changes for October friendlies
CHICAGO – Midfielder Tanner Tessmann and forwards Brandon Vazquez and Alex Zendejas have been added to the USMNT roster for the October matches against Panama and Mexico. Vazquez and Zendejas will arrive today into Austin, with Tessman coming the following day.
New U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Mauricio Pochettino named 25 players to his first training camp roster. Folarin Balogun, Johnny Cardoso and Tim Weah have all been withdrawn due to injury issues.
Pochettino will coach the USA for the first time on Oct. 12 vs. Panama in Austin, Texas. Kickoff from Q2 Stadium for the USMNT’s Hispanic Heritage Match, is set for 9 p.m. ET.
The U.S. will then visit archrival Mexico in Guadalajara on Oct. 15. Kickoff from Estadio Akron is set for 9:30 p.m. ET as North America’s fiercest rivalry will play a friendly in Mexico for the first time since 2012.
Pochettino’s debut match with the USMNT will be broadcast live on TNT, Telemundo, Universo, Max, Peacock and Futbol de Primera Radio. Mexico-USA will be broadcast on TNT, Max and Futbol de Primera Radio.
Tessmann, 23, captained the U.S. Men’s Olympic Team this past summer. The Birmingham, Ala., native has two caps with the senior team, having made his debut in the team’s 7-0 win against Trinidad and Tobago on Jan. 31, 2021, in Orlando. Now playing for Olympique Lyonnais in the French Ligue 1, he is a product of the FC Dallas youth set-up and won the Golden Ball as the best player in the 2019 U-18/19 Development Academy Playoffs as he helped his team reach the championship match.
Vazquez has four goals in eight appearances for the USMNT. A dual citizen of the United States and Mexico, the 25-year-old returns to the U.S. fold for the first time since the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup, where he scored three goals including the go-ahead goal against Canada in the quarterfinals. He currently plays for Monterrey in Mexico’s Liga MX, having tallied three goals in 12 matches this season.
Zendejas, 26, has earned seven caps for the senior team since confirming his commitment to represent the United States in March of 2023. Hailing from El Paso, Texas, alongside U.S. teammate Ricardo Pepi, the Mexican-American has recorded one goal and one assist for the USMNT, appearing in four matches during the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup.Playing for Club América in Liga MX, he recently returned from injury.
U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM – OCTOBER TRAINING CAMP ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS (4): Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City/WAL; 9/0), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; 2/0), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids; 29/0), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace/ENG; 45/0)
DEFENDERS (8): Marlon Fossey (Standard Liege; 1/0), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo/ITA; 5/0), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/FRA; 14/0), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; 62/1), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 46/4), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 29/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach/GER; 12/0), Auston Trusty (Celtic/SCO; 2/0)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/ENG; 44/8), Gianluca Busio (Venezia/ITA; 13/1), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 56/11), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough/ENG; 7/0), Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA; 41/0), Tanner Tessmann (Olympic Lyonnais/FRA; 2/0), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 14/0)
FORWARDS (6): Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven; 30/10), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA; 73/31), Josh Sargent (Norwich City/ENG; 25/5), Brandon Vazquez (Monterrey/MEX; 8/4), Haji Wright (Coventry City/ENG; 13/4), Alex Zendejas (Club América/MEX; 7/1)
