A youthful version of the U.S. men's national team will return to play for friendlies against Canada and New Zealand this month as they begin to put the disappointment of this summer's Copa America behind them.

Experienced players like Christian Pulisic and Tim Ream lead the group but will be mixed in alongside newcomers like Standard Liege defender Marlon Fossey and Barcelona reserve goalkeeper Diego Kochen. Winger Timothy Weah and midfielders Tyler Adams and Gianluca Busio will miss this camp with injuries, while U-20 coach Mikey Varas will serve as the interim head coach for these two camps.

In a late change to the roster, midfielder Gio Reyna will also depart camp with a groin strain with Cade Cowell coming in as a replacement. With Reyna struggling for playing time at Borussia Dortmund, this is yet another setback for the young midfielder.

USMNT September Roster: Players to Watch

The roster contains plenty of familiar faces, containing 18 players who were also on the Copa América roster. But there are also some notable absences. Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie started training in only the third week of August, and is still in preseason mode. The same is true of Tanner Tessmann, who recently completed a move to Ligue 1 side Lyon. Fulham defender Antonee Robinson is being given a break after two offseason surgeries, while Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers is dealing with a toe injury.

Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams, Venezia's Gianluca Busio, PSV Eindhoven defender Sergiño Dest, Wolfsburg's Kevin Paredes and Juventus midfielder Timothy Weah will also miss the two matches due to injuries.

Among the uncapped players are FC Barcelona II goalkeeper Diego Kochen and Standard Liege defender Marlon Fossey.

USMNT's New Faces: Marlon Fossey and Diego Kochen

Marlon Fossey is a right-back who has been playing well for Standard Liege in Belgium. He is a player that Varas has been watching closely and he will be looking to make an impression in these friendlies.

Diego Kochen is a young goalkeeper who plays for Barcelona B. He is a high-potential player and this is a great opportunity for him to gain some experience with the senior national team.

A New Era Begins: The Pochettino Effect

This month's friendlies mark the USMNT's return to play since their group stage exit from the Copa America, a surprise early exit considering the team eyed a statement-making turn as they prepared for the 2026 World Cup on home soil. The poor showing forced U.S. Soccer to fire Gregg Berhalter in July, with the federation reportedly landing on Mauricio Pochettino as his successor. The former Premier League manager reportedly agreed to take the job last month but a deal has yet to be finalized.

While the hiring of Mauricio Pochettino as USMNT manager is expected to happen any day now, the team will be managed by Mikey Varas on an interim basis for the duration of the window, which has been the U.S. Soccer Federation's plan for weeks. Varas, 39, served as assistant coach under previous manager Gregg Berhalter, who was fired following the USMNT's poor performance at the Copa América, where the team failed to advance past the group stage.

Varas is reportedly in advanced negotiations to become the first manager of MLS expansion side San Diego FC. The futures on the remaining staff members are part of the discussions for hiring a new manager.

Interim Coach Mikey Varas: A Chance to Shine

Mikey Varas has a chance to prove himself as the interim manager for these two matches. He is a talented coach with a lot of experience working with young players. He is also a very competitive person and will be looking to get the best out of his players. Varas has a wealth of experience at the youth level, having been the head coach of the U.S. Under-20 team. It will be interesting to see how he does in this new role.

This roster will be playing for a new manager, and the friendlies in September will be a chance for them to show their worth. It will also be a chance for Varas to make a good first impression on Pochettino and possibly land a role on the coaching staff.

The Future is Now: The Next Generation of USMNT Players

The USMNT is in a period of transition, with a new manager on the horizon and a new generation of players emerging. This September window will be a key test for the team as they look to build towards the 2026 World Cup. The team will need to find a way to balance the experience of players like Pulisic and Ream with the potential of younger players like Fossey and Kochen. They will also need to find a way to overcome the loss of key players to injury. This is the start of a new era for the USMNT and it will be interesting to see how they perform in these upcoming friendlies.

The Last Word: What Happens Next for the USMNT?

The USMNT has a lot of work to do if they want to be successful in the 2026 World Cup. They need to find a new manager, develop a new identity, and continue to build a strong team. These September friendlies will be a good opportunity to start that process. The next few years will be a critical time for the USMNT. They will need to make sure they are ready for the challenge of hosting the 2026 World Cup.

This roster is a mix of veterans and young players, with a lot of potential. It will be interesting to see how they perform in these two friendlies. If they can put in some strong performances, it will be a good sign for the future of the USMNT. The team will be looking to build on their recent successes and make a strong statement in the world of international soccer.