Pochettino Replaces Injured Pepi with Downs on USMNT Roster
The 28-man squad includes 13 players from the 2026 FIFA World Cup and several first-time senior call-ups, Pochettino said.
- Coach Mauricio Pochettino called up striker Damion Downs to replace injured forward Ricardo Pepi on the USMNT roster for four upcoming friendlies against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada.
- Pepi sustained a muscle injury in the eighth minute of PSV Eindhoven's 3-2 loss to FC Twente on Sunday, forcing the 23-year-old to withdraw from Pochettino's 28-man squad.
- The 22-year-old Downs, a German-born dual citizen on loan at St. Louis CITY SC from Southampton, debuted for the USMNT against Switzerland in June 2025 and has earned six national team caps.
- Downs joins a roster missing veterans Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, Tim Weah and Brandon Aaronson; Pepi had realistic chances for minutes because of Balogun's injury absence.
- Pochettino's squad integrates a dozen prospects earning their first senior promotions, featuring 16-year-old midfielder Cavan Sullivan of Philadelphia Union as part of the coach's 2030 World Cup cycle planning.
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Damion Downs replaces injured Ricardo Pepi for USMNT friendlies - Regional Media News
By Field Level Media Sep 21 (Field Level Media) - The United States men's national team replaced injured striker Ricardo Pepi with Damion Downs on its roster for four upcoming friendlies. Pepi was forced out after suffering an injury in the eighth minute of PSV [...]
PSV international withdraws through injury
Ricardo Pepi has withdrawn from the United States national team, the US Soccer Federation have announced. The PSV striker went off injured on Sunday in the match against FC Twente (3-2) and will therefore be unable to play for his country during this international break.
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Damion Downs replaces injured Ricardo Pepi for USMNT friendlies
PSV will have to do without striker Ricardo Pepi for the upcoming matches. The American international is injured and will therefore also miss the international break with his country, PSV reports on its website. Things went wrong for the 23-year-old American early in the lost match at FC Twente (3-2). He sat down on the pitch and had to be substituted. Sven Mijnans was his replacement. PSV now reports on its site that the striker's recovery wi…
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