Tim Weah has been named in the US squad for the Concacaf Nations League quarter-finals against Jamaica, but will have to sit out coach Mauricio Pochettino’s first competitive match while serving a suspension.
Weah was handed a two-match ban for punching Panama’s Roderick Miller in the back of the head during a Copa América match in June. The 2–1 defeat contributed to the Americans’ elimination in the first round of the tournament, an exit that led to US Soccer replacing Gregg Berhalter with Pochettino.
Weah withdrew from the friendlies against Panama and Mexico last month due to an ankle injury. He scored for Juventus in Saturday’s win over Torino.
The three-time defending champion US plays Jamaica in the first leg of the quarterfinals on Thursday evening in Kingston and then hosts the Reggae Boyz on November 18 in St. Louis.
Forward Cade Cowell, midfielder Johnny Cardoso, defender Chris Richards and goalkeeper Diego Kochen were also additions to the 25-man roster after missing last month’s games. Goalkeeper Ethan Horvath and defenders Marlon Fossey and Kristoffer Lund were dropped.
Injured players who will miss the matches include defenders Sergiño Dest and Cameron Carter-Vickers, midfielders Gio Reyna and Luca De La Torre, and forwards Folarin Balogun, Josh Sargent and Haji Wright. Wright scored for the fourth time in five games for Coventry City on Saturday before suffering an ankle injury. Tyler Adams, who returned to Bournemouth last month after back surgery, was left out of the squad as he continues to improve his fitness with his club.
Christian Pulisic is the most experienced player on the roster with 74 international matches.
USMNT roster for Jamaica
Goalkeepers: Diego Kochen (Barcelona Atletic), Patrick Schulte (Columbus), Zack Steffen (Colorado), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace).
after newsletter promotion
Defenders: Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach), Auston Trusty (Celtic).
Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds), Gianluca Busio (Venezia), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough), Yunus Musah (AC Milan), Tanner Tessmann (Lyon), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven) .
Forward: Cade Cowell (Guadalajara), Ricardo Pepi (PSV), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Brandon Vazquez (Monterrey), Tim Weah (Juventus), Alex Zendejas (America).