

USMNT
Generation Adidas U17 Report
Published
3 years agoon
I did it for you all. I watched every broadcasted U17 match that featured an American MLS team. That means I was able to watch these clubs, some multiple times: Atlanta, LAFC, NYCFC, Seattle, Minnesota, LA Galaxy, NYRB, San Jose, Philadelphia, Columbus, Austin, Charlotte, Cincinnati, DC United, Miami, Houston and Real Salt Lake.
The following clubs did not get a broadcast at the U17 level: New England, Dallas, Orlando, KC, Portland, St. Louis, Colorado, Nashville or Chicago.
The U17 level consists of players born in 2005, 2006 and there were numerous players born in 2007 that were playing up a level. The 2005 age group has been a bit of a forgotten one from a Youth National Team (YNT) perspective, though the USSF just announced the hiring of Marko Mitrovic to lead the U19 group, which will focus on the 2005 age group. The reason they have been a bit of an afterthought is because the 2023 U20 World Cup will mostly feature 2003s and 2004s and the 2023 U17 World Cup will feature 2006s and 2007s.
Scouting players at this level is challenging. It can be messy. I rate players based on three categories: physical ability (strength, speed, quickness, explosiveness), technical ability (touch, dribbling, passing, shooting, tackling) and tactical/intellectual ability (creativity, mental processing, toughness).
At this age, I am looking for peaks and am not necessarily too concerned about valleys. I am looking for elite traits, even if they show up inconsistently. Obviously the players that do it more consistently get noted, but the key at this level is identify what a player could be and hope that through development, physical and mental maturation, and luck; the consistency will come and the areas of weakness can become strengths.
I’ve gone position by position to identify players that caught my eye:
Goalkeepers
Emmy Ochoa, San Jose Earthquakes (2005)
Emmy Ochoa is a Mexican-American that has played for Mexico at the U18 level, but is eligible to play for the US and is a likely target for the 2005 group. He signed as a homegrown player with San Jose as a 14 year old and currently starts for Earthquake II in MLS Next Pro. He’s the best 2005 US-eligible keeper that I have scouted. What stood out to me in the match I watched Emmy play vs River Plate was his ability with the ball at his feet and his intensity.
Jonathan Munteanu, Houston Dynamo (2005)
Jonathan has not played as a Youth International and is not on a pro contract, nor has he played for Dynamo 2. Jonathan caught my eye because of the explosiveness and demanding presence he showed between the pipes.
Left-Backs
Brian Alanis, Houston Dynamo (2006)
Brian Alanis is a youth international that has most recently joined a U17 camp in January. I liked Brian’s ability to maneuver in tight spaces and he has a really nice touch. He showed the ability to both initiate positive transitions and get on the end of transitional play by flying up the left sideline.
Christian McFarlane, NYCFC (2007)
Christian was one of the few standout 2007s playing up a level. He is a British-American that signed a homegrown contract with NYCFC as a 14 year old, but has not yet featured for NYCFC or NYCFC II in MLS Next Pro, though I’d expect that to happen at some point this year. Christian is big for his age, already standing at 6-0 tall. That also makes him bigger than you typically see at the full-back position, but I really like him out there. He’s really smooth on the ball and does a really nice job with his first touch. He showed a good ability to progress the ball forward and place passes right where they needed to be.
Right-Backs
Oscar Verhoeven, San Jose Earthquakes (2006)
Oscar is one of my favorite youth players to watch because he is so creative with the ball at his feet. Oscar has been called to the last couple U17 YNT camps and I expect him to be a fixture in that team. He has not signed a professional contract and has not played for Earthquakes II, but I think he will at some point this year. I saw more of what I had seen from Oscar, lightning quick feet, highly creative and good long passing and crosses. His defenses isn’t quite at the level of his offense, but he puts in a shift and he’s plenty fine physically at this level.
Izzy Boatwright, Inter Miami (2005)
Izzy played both Center-back and Right-back for Inter Miami, but played more so at RB, so I am placing him here. How Izzy develops physically will likely determine where he ends up. I first saw him play CB and loved his quickness and skill on the ball and as a passer. When I saw him play RB I was very intrigued, because he is a bigger guy. He showed even more creativity on the ball and was a monster in 1v1 defense. He was an absolute lock down 1v1 defender against the eventual championship side, Seattle.
Izzy Boatwright (2005) is a player that has caught my eye. He played really well at CB in group play and then played RB in the round of 16. He's got CB size and CBs don't usually do things like this. pic.twitter.com/qya1WafiOs
— Marcus Chairez (@chai_asc) April 14, 2022
Diego Rossi, NYCFC (2005)
Diego was recently called into the U19 camp and has appeared for NYCFC II. I was impressed with Diego’s quick feet, pace and ability to connect play up the right side.
Center-Backs
Francis Westfield, Philadelphia Union (2005)
Francis has appeared in two matches for Union II, starting one. He, like Izzy Boatwright, plays both RB and CB. He played RCB in a back three in the match I saw against Flamengo, maybe one of the most impressive performances I saw by a MLS academy team against a giant like Flamengo. Westfield showed an incredible feel for the game, he was intercepting everything. He isn’t the tallest CB, but he moves well and is plenty comfortable with the ball at his feet, but for sure his most impressive trait was the way he reads the game and disrupts the opponent’s attack.
Ángel Martínez, Seattle Sounders (2005)
Ángel has played for the USYNT at the U15 level. Ángel might not be the most physically gifted CB in this age group, but he is so smart and reads the game so well. He and Stuart Hawkins were the most solid CB pairing I saw and was a big reason why Seattle one the U17 cup. Ángel showed some good long balls and good ability to dribble out of trouble, but his mental processing was what really stood out to me.
Tyler Hall, Inter Miami (2006)
I only saw Tyler for a half, but you only need to see Tyler play a little to see that he is special. Tyler captained the USYNT U17s in the last camp and he has been a starter for Inter Miami II. I think it is only a matter of time before Tyler gets a homegrown deal with Miami. He’s clearly very well thought of within that organization and within the USSF. He has all the makings of an elite CB prospect, especially if he hits a little bit of growth spurt. He’s extremely mobile, physical, smart and is very comfortable with the ball at his feet. Unfortunately Tyler got a knock and missed the quarter-finals and semi-finals. I thought Miami really missed his presence in the backline and was a big reason they did not go through to the finals. Hopefully he gets fit soon and can get back on the field for Inter Miami II. Tyler is one of the best 2006 prospects I’ve scouted in the USYNT pool.
Matai Akinmboni, DC United (2006)
Matai is a tall, left-footed Center-back that has played for DC United’s USL side, Loudoun United. He and Jace Clark are two highly regarded CBs within the DC program at the U17 level. These two had the tough task of taking on a high powered River Plate side in VERY windy conditions. It wasn’t a standout game from Matai, but there were enough flashes of his ability as a ball playing CB, and his ambition to break lines with his passes, to get me excited. Tyler and Matai would make a very exciting CB pairing at the U17 level.
Defensive-Mids
Ethan Kohler, San Jose Earthquakes (2005)
You can’t miss Ethan on the pitch because he rocks the short shorts. Ethan has not played at the youth international level and is not on any sort of pro contract, but he did make his debut with Earthquakes II last weekend, starting at RCB. Ethan caught my eye at the GA Cup because he covers a lot of ground and is fearless going into tackles and challenges. He showed a lot of leadership qualities on the pitch and was also solid in possession and distribution.
Bryan Moyada, LAFC (2005)
Bryan is more of a deep lying, playmaking 6 in the mold of a Danny Leyva. I watched LAFC U17 play Flamengo in a match where LAFC looked a bit over matched, however Flamengo struggled to put together any big time chances and I think that was in large part because of Bryan’s pitch control and his ability to minimize momentum through craft possession and passing.
Center-Mids
Niko Tsakiris, San Jose Earthquakes (2005)
Niko signed his homegrown contract with San Jose earlier this year and has been getting some minutes with the first team and he’s looked good. Niko has the looks of being one of the top 2005s in the USYNT pool and with more success in the MLS, he could start getting looks with the U20s, otherwise he will be a staple with the 2005 group. Niko was very strong against River, showing good body control and an ability to progress the ball into the final third. He was a menace all match and looked exactly how you’d want a professional to look in a youth tournament.
Benjamin Cremaschi, Inter Miami (2005)
Cremaschi is an Argentinian-American who signed with the Miami academy recently from Weston. Benjamin actually first caught my eye in a MLS Next Pro match against Philly where he scored a nice header goal against McGlynn and Paxten. He played really well all tournament as both an 8 and a 6. He’s physically advanced and plays very strong and aggressive. He reads the game well and breaks up a lot of plays defensively. He is also a good ball progressor and connects well with wings and strikers. He’s definitely one to keep an eye on. I think his future is as a 6.
Daniel Ordonez, Austin FC (2005)
Daniel is a super smart and crafty midfielder. He’s tidy with the ball at his feet and he reads the game super well. He showed many different ways to progress the ball and help get the ball in dangerous positions.
Brandon Tellez, LA Galaxy (2005)
I thought Brandon played really well against a very good Manchester United side. He was dangerous in attack, creative with the dribble and had very good ideas in getting out of tight situations. He was one of the bright players in a match where LAG went toe to toe with one of the best academies in the world.
Caleb Borneo, Columbus Crew (2005)
Caleb has not signed a homegrown contract nor has he played internationally, but he has made the bench for Crew 2 and his debut should be around the corner. I really loved Caleb’s versatility in the match I watched. In the first half he played more as a playmaking 6 and in the second half he played more as an attacking 10 and he was effective at both.
Nate Worth, NYRB (2007)
Nate is one of the four 2007s on this list. He has not signed a homegrown contract, but he is on loan to NYRB II in the USL and he has been with the USYNT U15s. It’s rumored that Nate is the best free kick taker in the USYNT pool, but we didn’t get to see too much of it. He did score a goal in the match I saw on a bit of a broken play. He looked a little bit overmatched physically, he’s not the biggest kid, but overall I thought he showed toughness and hung in well for someone playing up a level.
Attacking-Mids
Cruz Medina, San Jose Earthquakes (2006)
Cruz is a premier 2006 player in the USYNT pool. He has not yet signed a homegrown contract, but he has trained with clubs like Bayern Munich. I expect the homegrown deal to happen this year and I also expect him to play with Earthquakes II at some point soon. He has been a consistent call up to the USYNT U17s. Cruz has more of a 10 profile, but plays the 8 for SJ and USMNT. In San Jose’s match against River, I saw more of what I have seen from Cruz. He’s got a rare and special ability with the ball at his feet. He’s so creative in tight spaces and has some sneaky acceleration to get by people. He’s not the biggest or fastest, but his technical ability is remarkable.
Christopher Aquino, Seattle Sounders (2006)
Mr. Aquino was one of the stars of the tournament and the championship team’s best attacking player. He came off the bench in the three matches I watched and played a false 9 type of role. He scored a goal in both the semi-finals and the finals. The goal in the finals was from about 25 to 30 yards out. He has a smooth left foot and is crafty in creating space in tight areas. Just when you thought the 2006 USYNT midfield couldn’t get anymore stacked, now you can throw Aquino in the mix.
Wingers
Álex Alcalá, LA Galaxy (2005)
Álex is on LA Galaxy II, but has not yet played for the USL side. He is eligible to play for the US and Mexico. He’s undersized, but boy did he put on a show in the round of 16 against Manchester United. He nutmegged the MU left-back four or five times. His dribbling and creative problem solving in tight spaces was a joy to watch.
#LAGalaxy U-17 academy player Alex Alcala (@AlexAlcala_05) showing off some skill at the Generation Adidas Cup. pic.twitter.com/p5cgtGiJWP
— Galaxy Fan Talk (@LAGalaxyFanTalk) April 14, 2022
Justin Knighton, LA Galaxy (2005)
Justin is a pacey, aggressive winger who was up for the challenge against Manchester United. He was relentless in running at defenders and created a lot of problems. He scored the first goal in that match and it was a nice one.
Andre Gitau, Houston Dynamo (2006)
Andre is another top 2006 and recently played with the USYNT U17s. Andre has a rare blend of athleticism and skill. He was a handful in the match I watched. He loves attacking players 1v1 and is able to have success with speed, power and skill.
Micah Burton, Austin FC (2006)
Micah recently played false 9 for the USYNT U17s, but he is better suited as a 10 or a winger. He’s undersized, but has a wonderful feel for the game and good technical ability. He scored on a very nice goal in the match I watched and was active all match long. I loved the different ways he got out of tight situations and he moved incredibly well without the ball.
Miles Perkovich, Inter Miami (2006)
The 2006 group has the looks of a historic one. Miles is another attacking player from that class that I am high on and he had some really nice moments in the GA Cup. He’s ambitious and creative with the dribble and loves to attack 1v1. I thought he held onto the ball a little too long in some instances and he wasn’t a major factor in the semi-final loss to Seattle, but there were tough circumstances in that match. Miles is more quick than fast and is very strong. I’d expect him to get a homegrown deal in the near future and also get a call from the USYNT.
Some thoughts on a couple Inter Miami U17s…
— Marcus Chairez (@chai_asc) April 14, 2022
Someone many of you follow for USYNT info tried to tell me that Miles Perkovich (2006) wasn't a YNT level player. I am not sure how you can have watched him play and think that. Not very many 15 year old wingers do stuff like this. pic.twitter.com/4VSmtdTGdV
Etienne Veillard, Seattle Sounders (2007)
Etienne is another 2007 that played up in this tournament. He scored the second goal for Seattle in the U17 finals. He’s a pacey and hard working winger that was a nuisance all tournament long
Strikers
Nelson Pierre, Philadelphia Union (2005)
I only saw Nelson for about 30 minutes vs Flamengo, but he was super impressive and an absolute load for the Brazilian side to handle. He has a rare blend of power and speed, reminiscent of Daryl Dike. He also had a goal that was Dike like with nice off ball movement and a killer finish from a tricky angle. Pierre is playing consistently with Union II and is a striker that the USMNT community should be excited about.
Bryan Destin, Inter Miami (2006)
Destin is a player I knew little about before the tournament, but I was left impressed. He scored a beautiful goal against River in a match where he had a brace. In that match he also showed some of the best hold up play you will see at this level. He knows how to use his strong frame to hold off defenders and keep the ball in a position that the defender cannot disrupt. From there he was effective in buying time for his teammates to enter the attack and find them in good positions. I’d love to see Destin with the USYNT U17s in the next camp. They need a target striker like Destin.
Diego Rodriguez, Austin FC (2006)
Diego isn’t typically a starter for Austin’s U17s, but with Cruz Mesa out with an injury, he saw a lot of minutes in this tournament. I was impressed with his skill on the ball and his ability to make plays for his teammates.
Axel Kei, Real Salt Lake (2007)
I didn’t see much of Axel in the match I watched, but his physical profile at his age is undeniable. He and Christian McFarlane are the only two 2007s on homegrown deals.
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USMNT
One Home or Many? The Debate Over a Primary Venue for U.S. Soccer
Published
1 day agoon
October 16, 2025
Thomas Deschaine (@uskeeper on X and us_keeper on Instagram)
The logics of the United States make it almost impossible for the USMNT or USWNT to have a primary venue to play all of their home matches but a trend of playing in a handful of stadiums has been developing over the last couple of cycles. US Soccer says there are specific factors behind where matches are played, some make sense, while others come across as lazy or lacking creativity.
If and when Major League Soccer aligns with the FIFA calendar and observes international breaks, more MLS stadiums could become available for matches. While not all MLS venues currently feature natural grass, US Soccer has indicated they would be willing to invest in installing grass, though at a cost of around $500K and with potential concerns about surface reliability.
Global Approach to Scheduling
Many of the top-tier international teams play their World Cup qualifiers and other critical matches in a primary venue or two. Here’s a sample of some of those countries and generally where they play based on my research.
Here are some of the more notable nations that play nearly all of their home matches at a single venue, a setup made practical by their smaller size and simpler logistics, which also makes it easier for fans.
Germany and Spain are known for rotating their non-critical home matches across multiple venues.

Argentina-Estadio Monumental (River Plate)
Belgium– King Baudouin Stadium (Brussels)
Colombia-Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez
England-Wembley Stadium
France– Stade de France (Saint-Denis, near Paris)
Italy-Stadio Olimpico
Northern Ireland-Windsor Park (Belfast)
Norway-Ullevaal Stadion (Oslo)
Portugal– Estádio da Luz (Lisbon)
Republic of Ireland-Aviva Stadium (Dublin)
Scotland-Hampden Park (Glasgow)
Uruguay-Estadio Centenario
Wales-Cardiff City Stadium
What’s in a location?
Here’s a look at the past few cycles, highlighting the USMNT’s home matches and the venues they’ve used. While US Soccer has clarified that they don’t control Gold Cup or Nations League venue selection, a point still under debate, they do manage the locations for Friendlies and World Cup qualifiers and continue to review and adjust those choices.
2026 Cycle (Matches Scheduled Through the end of 2025) – 46 Home Matches – 30 unique cities
So far, half of the USMNT’s home matches in the 2026 cycle have been held across eight venues. Only two more windows, March and May/June, remain for Friendlies before the 2026 World Cup.
- 4-AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
- 4-Energizer Park, previously CityPark, St. Louis, Missouri
- 4-Q2 Stadium, Austin, Texas
- 3-Inter&Co Stadium (previously Orlando City Stadium and Exploria Stadium, Orlando, Florida
- 2-Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, Nevada
- 2-Geodis Park, Nashville, Tennessee
- 2-Rentschler Field, East Hartford, Connecticut
- 2-TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
2022 Cycle – 43 Home Matches – 24 unique cities
I can almost give US Soccer a pass on city and venue selection during the 2022 cycle, given the global circumstances at the time. That said, it’s interesting that they scheduled three consecutive home World Cup qualifiers in Ohio, with final round two matches in Columbus. Columbus has been a recurring choice, hosting multiple qualifiers in 2014, 2018, and 2022, handling one match each during both the semifinal and final rounds of qualifying in 2014 and 2018.

Lower.com, Columbus, Ohio
2018 Cycle – 47 Home Matches – 33 unique cities
During the 2018 cycle, the USMNT played in a wider variety of cities and venues. Aside from four matches in Carson, California for the January camp, they only repeated a location eleven times.

Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, CA
2014 Cycle – 43 Home Matches – 29 unique cities
During the 2014 cycle, the USMNT repeated cities twelve times, but only two cities hosted more than two matches: Carson, California, where two of three games were for Camp Cupcake, and Kansas City, Kansas, which hosted three matches.

Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kansas
2010 Cycle – 35 Home Matches – 18 unique cities
One of the leanest home schedules in recent cycles saw the USMNT play in just 18 different cities, with 11 of them hosting only a single match. Over half of their home games were concentrated in four cities: Carson, California (7 matches); Chicago, Illinois (5 matches); and Foxborough, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. (3 matches each).

Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
2006 Cycle – 44 Home Matches – 24 unique cities
The USMNT played eight matches in Foxborough, Massachusetts—double the number held in the next two cities, Columbus, Ohio, and Miami, Florida, which each hosted four matches. Notably, the team has excelled in Foxborough, losing only once in 22 games played there.

Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, MA
2002 Cycle – 38 Home Matches – 16 unique cities
During the 2002 cycle, California was clearly a preferred destination for the USMNT, hosting matches in five different cities across twelve games. Foxborough, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C. each hosted five matches as well.

Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, CA
1998 Cycle– 40 Home Matches – 21 unique cities
Washington D.C. was the city of choice for the USMNT during the 1998 cycle playing six matches. The USMNT would also play more than two matches in Los Angeles, California (5 matches), Foxborough, Massachusetts (4 matches) and Pasadena, California (3 matches) while playing only one match in twelve other cities.

RFK Stadium, Washington, DC
Long Term Venue Strategy
While US Soccer may favor a single venue for most USMNT and USWNT matches, doing so would limit access for thousands of fans across the country. However, with the move to Georgia and the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center set to open in early 2026, ahead of the World Cup, it’s likely that future matches will focus on venues within three to four hours of Atlanta. We can expect the majority of games to continue taking place in roughly ten to twelve core cities.

Thomas Deschaine (@uskeeper on X and us_keeper on Instagram)
With the September FIFA window now in the rearview mirror, and only three more windows left before final rosters are set in late May or early June 2026, Mauricio Pochettino has drawn a clear line.
He’s stated that September’s camp was the “last camp to have the possibility for new faces.”
If we take him at his word, the nearly 70 players who’ve been called across six camps and the Gold Cup will form the pool from which he selects the 2026 World Cup squad.
Of the 60 players named to the 2025 Gold Cup provisional roster, only five, Maxi Dietz, Richie Ledezma, Tim Tillman, Caleb Wiley, and Griffin Yow, have yet to appear on a #USMNT roster under Pochettino.
Comparing the 2025 Nations League provisional roster to the Gold Cup list reveals over a dozen different players, raising the question: are these minor differences simply the edges of the player pool Pochettino intends to draw from?
Goalkeepers
Nine goalkeepers have been called into Pochettino’s camps, but it’s clear that Matt Freese is his first-choice right now, with Matt Turner likely the No. 2 as we sit just 10 months from the World Cup.

- Chris Brady
- Drake Callender
- Roman Celentano
- Matt Freese
- Ethan Horvath
- Jonathan Klinsmann
- Diego Kochen
- Patrick Schulte
- Zack Steffen
- Matt Turner
Fullbacks
Outside of Sergiño Dest and Antonee Robinson, the USMNT’s fullback depth remains a concern. Pochettino appears high on MLS defenders Alex Freeman and Max Arfsten, while Caleb Wiley, though yet to feature in a USMNT camp but named to recent provisional rosters, could still be on his depth chart.

- Max Arfsten
- Sergino Dest
- Alex Freeman
- Marlon Fossey
- DeJuan Jones
- Kristoffer Lund
- Shaquell Moore
- Antonee Robinson
- Joe Scally
- John Tolkin
Centerbacks
Center back remains another position with uncertain depth. Chris Richards and the veteran Tim Ream look like locks for now, leaving three spots up for grabs. If Pochettino opts for a back three, that tactical shift could influence which players ultimately make the cut. Notably, Jackson Ragen and Maxi Dietz are the only center backs from the recent provisional rosters who haven’t been called into a USMNT camp.
- Noahkai Banks
- Tristan Blackmon
- George Campbell
- Cameron Carter-Vickers
- Mark McKenzie
- Tim Ream
- Chris Richards
- Miles Robinson
- Auston Trusty
- Walker Zimmerman
Central Midfielders
The central midfield position is the deepest for the #USMNT, with many players in the pool capable of also playing fullback, center back, or winger. Although Richie Ledezma has primarily played as a right back and right wing-back for his current club and for PSV last season, USMNT coaches view him primarily as a midfielder. This likely explains why he hasn’t yet been called into a USMNT camp.

- Tyler Adams
- Sebastian Berhalter
- Gianluca Busio
- Johnny Cardoso
- Ben Cremaschi
- Luca de la Torre
- Emeka Eneli
- Jack McGlynn
- Weston McKennie
- Aidan Morris
- Yunus Musah
- Tanner Tessmann
- Sean Zawadzki
Attacking Midfielders
There are several players at this position who could add real quality and play pivotal roles for the #USMNT at next summer’s World Cup. Gio Reyna remains a major question mark, but his talent is undeniable. With his recent club change, there’s hope he can return to the high level of form we’ve seen from him in the past.

- Brenden Aaronson
- Paxten Aaronson
- Brian Gutiérrez
- Djordje Mihailovic
- Matko Miljevic
- Gio Reyna
- Malik Tillman
Wingers
The winger position remains thin for the #USMNT, though several players there can also slot in as attacking midfielders, strikers, or even fullback. Notably, two young wingers, Cole Campbell and Griffin Yow, appeared on provisional rosters but have yet to be called into any Pochettino camp.

- Cade Cowell
- Diego Luna
- Christian Pulisic
- Quinn Sullivan
- Indiana Vassilev
- Tim Weah
- Haji Wright
- Alejandro Zendejas
Strikers
Another area of concern for the USMNT is striker depth. While the top options have all produced well for their clubs when healthy, injuries have kept the pool thin. If everyone is fit, the primary competition for the starting role likely comes down to three players: Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, and Josh Sargent. Haji Wright and Tim Weah can also step in as center-forward options if needed.

- Patrick Agyemang
- Folarin Balogun
- Damion Downs
- Jesus Ferreira
- Ricardo Pepi
- Josh Sargent
- Brandon Vazquez
- Brian White
Conclusion
It’s tough to read Pochettino’s mindset right now. Many expect fewer MLS players to be called for the October window, partly because the league continues through FIFA dates and the regular season ends mid-October.
Most World Cup rosters largely select themselves, with only a few surprising omissions, think of the 1994 squad, which left out several players many felt deserved a spot.
But with Pochettino still showing a shaky grasp of the USMNT player pool, this cycle could produce more notable snubs than ever, though there’s still time for him to get it right.

- Caring for Villa Hills, Fort Thomas, Union, Florence, Crestview Hills and Northern Kentucky
Over the past few years, I’ve written here at Chasing A Cup about family, faith, leadership, and walking through life with intention. Some of you have been reading since the early days. Some of you prayed for my family. Some of you even rolled up your sleeves and gave blood — blood that was meant for my mom and others like her in their time of need.
I’ll never forget that.
Three years ago, my mom passed away. It was a season of heartbreak, but also one of clarity. As I stood beside my family — and as I supported others in our community grieving their own parents — I came to understand how deeply care matters. Not just in hospitals or emergencies, but in the everyday: the quiet, complicated, deeply human moments that make up the final chapters of someone’s life.
That realization stayed with me. And over time, it changed the direction of my work.
For most of my career, I worked in product management — building teams, delivering systems, and leading with structure and strategy. I still believe in all of that. But I also wanted to build something more personal. Something rooted not just in outcomes, but in presence and compassion.
That’s why Sarah and I decided to open a Caring Excellence office in Northern Kentucky.
Caring Excellence has been serving families across Kentucky for over 13 years. It’s a family-owned, fully licensed home care agency that specializes in non-medical, in-home support for seniors and adults — help with daily living, memory care, companionship, and more. And now, we’re proud to bring that same level of compassionate, character-driven care to Florence and the surrounding region.
Our new Northern Kentucky office serves families in places like Villa Hills, Union, Fort Thomas, Crestview Hills, and Florence — communities filled with multi-generational households, strong family ties, and seniors who deserve to age with dignity.
At Caring Excellence, we focus on people first. We don’t just fill schedules — we carefully match caregivers to clients based on personality, needs, and values. Sarah leads our caregiver hiring, drawing from her years of experience as both a caregiver and healthcare professional. She looks not just for skill, but for heart — people of integrity, empathy, and real compassion.
As for me, I now use my business background to support the team behind the scenes — building systems, developing processes, and making sure our caregivers have the tools and training they need to serve others well.
This new venture is deeply personal. It’s also missional. It’s about stepping into people’s lives when they need support most and offering something simple, but powerful: peace of mind.
We’re not moving to Florence, but we’re fully committed to this region. We’re investing in it — by hiring local caregivers, building relationships with local providers, and offering families home care in Northern Kentucky a trusted option for high-quality home care.
To those of you who’ve been on this journey with me — through writing, through prayer, through donating blood when we needed it most — thank you. I hope this new chapter reflects what we’ve always believed in here: that service matters, character counts, and small acts of care can ripple further than we think.
If you know someone in Northern Kentucky who needs support — in Union, Villa Hills, Crestview Hills, Fort Thomas, or Florence — we’d be honored to walk alongside them.
Thanks for reading, and for being part of the story.
—Marcus
Learn More
To learn more about Caring Excellence and our in-home care services for Northern Kentucky families, visit:
https://caringexcellenceathome.com/northern-kentucky-office


One Home or Many? The Debate Over a Primary Venue for U.S. Soccer

The constructing of a World Cup roster

Launching Caring Excellence in Northern Kentucky

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