They could care less about the noise that’s generated across comment sections and online forums that diminish MLS as a pipeline for the national team. The reality, though, is quite simple: January camp is not a collection of the country’s best players.

On Saturday, the U.S. men’s national team will face Venezuela in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The friendly is an opportunity for the United States to build positive momentum under new head coach Mauricio Pochettino.

Mauricio Pochettino, the Argentine coach tasked with leading the U.S. national team through the 2026 World Cup, said he and his staff have been quite impressed with the level of play from the MLS players at camp in Fort Lauderdale this week.

Mauricio Pochettino challenged the players in his MLS-based January camp squad to show why they should be the ones to fill out the player pool.

New USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino is looking for players who play with the same pride and passion as he sees in Argentina.

USA national team coach Mauricio Pochettino has been quick to praise the quality of American players but says he wants to inject some Argentine spirit and patriotism into his squad.

Domestic league action is back this weekend with Arsenal vs. Aston Villa, Juventus vs. Milan and Manchester United vs. Brighton and Hove Albion all notable on top of the U.S. men's national team taking on Venezuela.

Right from the jump, Mauricio Pochettino made clear to the players he convened for the US men’s national team’s January 2025 camp that their quality and productivity on the pitch, not the league or continent where they ply their club ball,

The United States men's national team will hold its annual January camp to kick off a 2025 calendar year which the U.S. federation hopes will be about growth as Mauricio Pochettino builds towards the 2026 World Cup.

Mauricio Pochettino is evaluating MLS-based U.S. players this week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale that includes a friendly Saturday vs. Venezuela.

Watch USMNT vs. Venezuela on Peacock Venezuela has similarly called in an untested roster. Among the team's 24 call-ups, 11 are uncapped and 17 have three caps or fewer. The USMNT and Venezuela have met six times previously,