Gio Reyna has withdrawn from the USMNT’s roster for September’s friendlies against Canada and New Zealand due to a left groin strain.
Club Deportivo de Guadalajara midfielder Cade Cowell has been called up in Reyna’s place.
Reyna has made just one substitute cameo for Borussia Dortmund this season after returning from a six-month loan spell at Nottingham Forest during the second half of the 2023-24 campaign.
The 21-year-old started all three games at this summer’s Copa America as the U.S. suffered a group-stage exit.
He had been pictured in training with the U.S. this week ahead of the two friendlies but has now left camp.
Reyna is the latest first-team regular to be missing for September’s fixtures, with Weston McKennie, Antonee Robinson, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Tim Weah, Gianluca Busio, Tyler Adams, Sergino Dest and Tanner Tessmann all absent.
Reyna’s replacement Cowell has been capped eight times at senior level, scoring once. He last played for the U.S. in the Gold Cup in July 2023.
(Ulises Ruiz/AFP via Getty Images
The 20-year-old joined Chivas from the San Jose Earthquakes in January 2024, and this marks his first international call-up since making the move to Liga MX.
He has made six appearances for Chivas this season, providing three goals and three assists.
Cowell joins a young U.S. squad for September’s camp that consists of 13 players aged 23 and younger.
Interim manager Mikey Varas will take charge of the U.S. for the two fixtures in September following Gregg Berhalter’s dismissal after his side’s early Copa America exit. The Athletic reported Mauricio Pochettino is expected to be named Berhalter’s permanent successor.
The U.S. faces Copa semifinalists Canada on Saturday and New Zealand on Tuesday.
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USMNT September roster
GOALKEEPERS (4): Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City/WAL; 9/0), Diego Kochen (FC Barcelona II/ESP; 0/0), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; 1/0), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace/ENG; 44/0)
DEFENDERS (8): Auston Trusty (Celtic/SCO; 2/0), Marlon Fossey (Standard Liege/BEL; 0/0), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo/ITA; 3/0), Mark McKenzie (Tolouse/FRA; 13/0), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; 61/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 21/1), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 11/0), Caleb Wiley (Strasbourg/FRA; 2/0)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis/ESP; 15/0), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/ESP; 22/0), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough/ENG; 5/0), Yunus Musah (AC Milan; ITA; 39/0), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 12/0), Cade Cowell (Chivas/MEX; 8/1)
FORWARDS (6): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/ENG; 42/8), Folarin Balogun (Monaco/FRA; 15/5), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 28/10), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA; 71/30), Josh Sargent (Norwich City/ENG; 25/5), Haji Wright (Coventry City/ENG; 11/4)
(Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
