Adams, Luna, Wright left out of USMNT squad for March friendlies

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (AP) — Tyler Adams, Diego Luna and Haji Wright will miss U.S. friendlies against Belgium and Portugal in addition to Sergiño Dest, while Gio Reyna, Patrick Agyemang and Johnny Cardoso were among 27 players picked Tuesday for the last roster before coach Mauricio Pochettino announces his World Cup selections.

Noahkai Banks was not included for a possible debut. The 19-year-old defender, also eligible to play for Germany, made his Bundesliga debut with Augsburg in January 2025 and trained with the U.S. last September but did not get into a match.

Left back Antonee Robinson returns and could make his first appearance since November 2024 after recovering from a knee injury. He is among 10 additions along with several other players who missed November friendlies against Paraguay and Uruguay because of injuries or fitness issues, a group that includes defender Chris Richards, Cardoso and fellow midfielder Malik Tillman, and forwards Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah.

Weston McKennie is back after being left off in November to remain at Juventus just after a new coach was hired by the club. Agyemang was added after 10 goals in 34 league matches for second-tier Derby in England.

Goalkeepers Matt Turner and Chris Brady were added while keepers Jonathan Klinsmann and Patrick Schulte were dropped along with defender John Tolkin and midfielder Timothy Tillman.

Players start reporting Sunday for games against Belgium on March 28 and Portugal three days later, both in Atlanta. They are the last chance for Pochettino to evaluate players together before he announces his 26-man World Cup roster on May 26. The Americans have friendlies against Senegal on May 31 and Germany on June 6, then open the World Cup vs. Paraguay on June 12.

Adams, the U.S. captain at the 2022 World Cup, missed Bournemouth’s match against Burnley last weekend because of an unspecified issue. Dest, the top American right back, injured his left hamstring playing for PSV Eindhoven on March 7.

Luna, a midfielder who emerged last year, made his season debut for Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake last weekend as a second-half substitute after missing three matches because of a knee injury. Wright left Coventry’s game against Southampton in the second half last weekend because of a groin injury.

In addition, defender/midfielder James Sands had ankle surgery Friday and is expected to miss the rest of St. Pauli’s season.

Reyna scored in the November game against Paraguay in his first international start in 16 months but again has had trouble getting playing time with his club. He has just 403 Bundesliga minutes this season for Borussia Mönchengladbach , none since Jan. 17.

Pulisic missed the November games to regain fitness following a hamstring injury. While he scored 10 goals in his first 15 appearances for AC Milan this season, he has none in his last 11 games.

Just nine of the players are with MLS teams.

USMNT squad

Goalkeepers: Chris Brady (Chicago), Roman Celentano (Cincinnati), Matt Freese (New York City), Matt Turner (New England Revolution).

Defenders: Max Arfsten (Columbus), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Auston Trusty (Glasgow Celtic).

Midfielders: Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver), Johnny Cardoso (Atletico Madrid), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough), Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Cristian Roldan (Seattle), Tanner Tessmann (Lyon); Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen).

Forwards: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds); Patrick Agyemang (Derby), Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Tim Weah (Marseille).

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