The United States men's national team completed a perfect international window, winning all four matches and scoring 12 goals. The success highlighted the emergence of young talents while raising questions about the absence of star player Christian Pulisic.
Winners: Sullivan and other young stars
Cavan Sullivan, 17, was a standout performer, particularly against Mexico. His energetic runs and willingness to take on defenders drew comparisons to Clint Dempsey's fearless approach. Despite efforts to temper expectations before the window, his play made it difficult not to consider him a future star.
Sebastian Berhalter proved effective off the bench and in a start against Mexico, showcasing his distribution and precise dead-ball service. Diego Kochen impressed in goal during his debut, calming the game and commanding his area, with defenders trusting him in possession due to his Barcelona upbringing.
Julian Hall, another young striker, stood out for his spatial awareness and off-ball movement, offering a promising alternative to Folarin Balogun.
Losers: Pulisic's absence and Dest's role
Christian Pulisic was the most notable absentee from Mauricio Pochettino's roster, with reasons ranging from recent injury recovery to the need to evaluate younger players. Pochettino declined to discuss Pulisic's exclusion specifically, though he spoke at length about Balogun's situation and emphasized the importance of players who are desperate to be in camp.
Sergiño Dest had a poor World Cup and was peripheral in this window. With Alex Freeman and Frankie Westfield emerging as right-back options, and Sullivan potentially occupying the wing, Dest's role in the squad is now uncertain.
Despite criticism of Pochettino's return, his management this window was widely praised. The mix of youth and experience, along with the "contagious" energy of the young players, suggests a strong start to the World Cup cycle.
