The upcoming international window (September and October 2026) allows the United States, Mexico under Rafa Marquez, and Canada to play their first post-World Cup friendlies, while other CONCACAF Nations participate in the 2026-27 Nations League. We take a look at all the international football action ahead.
Mauricio Pochettino Starts a USMNT Youth Movement
Mauricio Pochettino went bold with his first USMNT squad since the World Cup disappointment against Belgium. The Stars and Stripes will have a young squad for matches against Peru, Chile, Mexico, and Canada in the coming weeks.
20-year-old Diego Kochen (Lyngby) will debut in goal, George Campbell (West Brom) gets just his second call up, and there’s debuts in the backline for three U-21 players, Frankie Westfield, Neil Pierre both from Philadelphia Union and Peyton Miller (NE Revolution).
In the midfield, Mathis Albert (Dortmund), Zaiver Gozo (Crystal Palace) and Brooklyn Raines (NE Revolution) will debut from the U-21 group, as will SV Elversberg forward Cole Campbell (20). Other uncapped players to debut include Adri Mehmeti and Julian Hall (RB New York), Justin Ellis (Orlando City), and MLS wonderkid, 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union/Manchester City).
Pochettino was blunt with the media regarding his goals to build the next-era of the USMNT:
“If you see Lamine Yamal, Spain won the World Cup with an 18-year-old … You say, ‘No, he’s too young. He needs more experience.’ Why? He is the best.
“If we have some players that are the same age—16, 17, 18, 19 [years old]—and are good, and we are performing and performing well. Then why? It is about opportunity. Give the opportunity and take the opportunity … That is the mentality we want to build in this process in these four years.”
No matter the results this window, it’s clear young players will be given more opportunities than ever before by Pochettino.
Rafa Marquez Names his First Mexico Squad
Mexico will contine their “Somos Locales” games in the United States after a strong World Cup showing ended in defeat against England. Former national team captain Rafa Marquez is now managing El Tri and will lead the nation into battle once again, this time in a suit. Mexico plays Colombia, Peru, the United States, and Chile this window. Rafa Marquez gave debut caps to Leon goalkeeper Oscar Garcia and Athletic Bilbao’s Alex Padilla.
In the backline, there’s four players under 25 including AZ’s Mateo Chavez, and Toluca’s Everardo Lopez. In the midfield, the veteran Orbelin Pineda (Monterrey) is the most experienced name but attention will continue to be on the pairing of Obed Vargas (Atletico Madrid) and Gilberto Mora (Tijuana Xolos).
In a surprise move, Rafa Marquez called up 31-year-old forward Hirving “Chucky” Lozano again, as Lozano is getting minutes at LA Galaxy, German Berterame (Inter Miami) continues, but the youth movement is led by Hormiga Gonzalez (23 and now at Olympiacos), Isaias Violante (America), and two teenagers at Chivas, Hugo Camberos and Santiago Sandoval. Violante, Camberos, and Sandoval will face off this Saturday in Mexico’s Clasico Nacional.
Beyond the squad changes, El Tri fans will be watching to see if Marquez adopts a more aggressive style of football, after Mexico was pragmatic under Vasco Aguirre. Marquez told the media last week “I’m not going to work from scratch, there’s continuity, there’s a very important base that I’m excited to make this team grow,”
Jesse Marsch Looks to Keep Canada’s Progress Intact
Canada will play three North American friendlies this window, in Toronto, Montreal and just across the border in Minnesota, United States. The opponents are Chile, Peru, and the United States. Jesse Marsch is aiming to continue to build Canada into an international powerhouse. March told the press: “This summer changed what’s possible for this program, and these matches are our chance to build on it.”
Two goalkeepers were handed their first caps, including Portland Timbers James Pantemis. Jovan Ivanisevic (Sarajevo), and Richard Chukwu (Toronto FC) will debut in the backline, along with 20-year-old Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Jeevan Badwal. Daniel Jebbison from Bournemouth (23) continues as a forward.
The other CONCACAF nation with friendlies this window is Panama, who will play India, New Zealand, and Japan or Ecuador, all in Asia, as Thomas Christiansen will continue as manager. Panama named six players as debutants to the squad, and there’s three U-23 NY Red Bulls players who were called up together.
A Look at the CONCACAF Nations League
The rest of CONCACAF will participate in the Nations League this window. Group A of League A features World Cup participants Curacao and Haiti, along with the fallen star of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Trinidad & Tobago, and the Dominican Republic.
Costa Rican media reported manager Fernando ‘Bocha’ Batista will call up players including the veterans Joel Campbell and Francisco Calvo. While Dick Advocaat called up 18 players from the World Cup squad for Curacao, out of 23 named. A notable name called up by Haiti is Werder Bremen attacker Kenny Quetant.
Group B of League A includes Suriname, El Salvador, Martinique, Guatemala, Jamaica, and Honduras. For Honduras, all eyes will be on their forward from FC Lugano in Switzerland, Dereck Moncada. Teenage defender Victor Vandenbroucke (KAA Gent) will also debut, and there’s midfielder Luis Palma from Lech Poznan in the squad as well.
El Salvador’s squad is almost entirely domestic, with Brayan Gil (FC Baltika in Russia), and DC United’s Nathan Ordaz notable exceptions, and this is similarly true for Guatemala, with the exception of LAFC’s Matt Evans. These Nations League matches will help shape the tournament field for the next Gold Cup in 2027.
The Last Word
The post-World Cup era is officially underway across CONCACAF, and this window offers an early look at what the next cycle could bring. The United States is aggressively turning toward its youth, Mexico is beginning the Rafa Márquez era, and Canada wants to build on its strongest World Cup showing. Meanwhile, Panama and the Nations League sides are giving opportunities to their own emerging players. With the 2027 Gold Cup approaching, these friendlies and Nations League matches are about more than filling the international calendar—they are the first steps toward defining the next generation of CONCACAF football.
Main Photo Credit: Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
