USMNT needs “to look after” Tyler Adams ahead of 2026

One of the major absentees from the U.S. men’s national team’s November roster was midfielder Tyler Adams.

Adams, who has featured in each of the last three matches for AFC Bournemouth, was not included in Mauricio Pochettino’s 25-player roster for the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals. The veteran midfielder had missed most of Bournemouth’s season to date after undergoing back surgery following the 2024 Copa America last summer.

Despite logging 60+ minutes in Bournemouth’s 3-2 Premier League loss to Brentford on Saturday, Adams will stay in England and receive a break from international duty, which could provide a boost for his long-term availability for club and country.

Pochettino knows the importance of Adams, who he reportedly targeted as a transfer option during his one-year stay at Chelsea. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup less than two years away, the Argentine wants to provide Adams with every possibility to rest, in hopes of having him be a major part of that roster.

“He [Adams] is a highly important player for USA, for us, and I consider him personally a very important player for the future of this team,” Pochettino told reporters Sunday. “But the most important thing now is to see the progression. He came from a difficult moment. Yesterday, he played 60 minutes, 65 minutes.

“I think it was important for him to see and for us so happy to see the evolution of him,” he added. “But in the same time we know very well that we need to look after him if we want to have him in the best condition for 2026.”

Adams’ absence will open the door for Johnny Cardoso to start in his spot, while Weston McKennie, Aidan Morris, and Yunus Musah could also feature against Jamaica over the next seven days.

The two-legged showdown with the Reggae Boyz on Nov. 14 and 18 respectively will be the first competitive matches for the USMNT of the Pochettino-era.