Mikey Varas, a former assistant under Gregg Berhalter, has been appointed as the interim coach for the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) for upcoming friendly matches against Canada and New Zealand. This comes as the US Soccer Federation continues negotiations with Mauricio Pochettino to take over the permanent head coaching role, following Berhalter’s dismissal in July.
Varas, who has been with the national team program since 2021, has selected a 24-man roster that features a mix of established players and some new faces. Notable inclusions include Barcelona youth system goalkeeper Diego Kochen and Standard Liege defender Marlon Fossey, both of whom are uncapped at the senior international level.
However, several key players will be absent due to injuries or club commitments. Right back Sergiño Dest, midfielder Tyler Adams, and winger Tim Weah are all out injured, while defenders Antonee Robinson and Cameron Carter-Vickers and midfielder Weston McKennie will remain with their respective clubs.
Varas has also made some interesting selections in goal. He has opted for Patrick Schulte and Diego Kochen over Colorado’s Zack Steffen, who hasn’t played for the USMNT since their final World Cup qualifier in March 2022. The inclusion of Matt Turner, who recently joined Crystal Palace on loan, further adds depth to the goalkeeper pool.
The USA will face Canada on Saturday, September 9th, at Kansas City, Kansas, before taking on New Zealand three days later in Cincinnati, Ohio. Varas and his team will be aiming to build momentum and continue the development of the squad as they look ahead to the next World Cup cycle.
The USMNT is currently in a transitional period following the departure of Gregg Berhalter, and the upcoming friendlies provide a valuable opportunity for Mikey Varas to showcase his coaching abilities and for the players to continue their development. The USSF has stated that their plan was always for Varas to lead the team in these September matches, following the precedent set by previous interim coaches Anthony Hudson and B.J. Callaghan.
While the search for a permanent head coach continues, the USMNT’s focus will be on these upcoming friendlies and preparing for the future.
