Cole Campbell Called Up by USMNT as Pochettino Calls Up 12 Debutants

Young forward Cole Campbell has finally received his first call-up to the United States senior national team. The 20-year-old is included in the 28-man list assembled by coach Mauricio Pochettino for four friendlies against Peru, Chile, Mexico, and Canada. The decision followed Campbell's promising performances with Elversberg, a promoted club now playing in the Bundesliga.

Campbell, who was born in Houston, began his international career with Iceland's U17 team before deciding to represent the US. Since then, he has played for the United States' U19, U20, and U23 teams. Last summer, he left Borussia Dortmund for Elversberg and immediately scored one goal in four competitive appearances. His contribution in attack has been one of the main reasons Elversberg has been able to compete in the top tier of German football.

In the squad called up by Pochettino, Campbell is not the only new name. There are 12 uncapped players given a chance, including Borussia Dortmund midfielder Mathis Albert (17) and Bayer Leverkusen man Malik Tillman. Their presence signals a new direction for the US national team as it builds squad depth ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will be held on home soil.

For Pochettino, calling up young players like Campbell is a strategic move. The Argentine coach is known for liking to give opportunities to young talent, and he appears to want to test his squad depth before a major tournament. "Playing for the US senior team would be a dream come true," Campbell said in an interview, as quoted by a news source. The statement illustrates the scale of the ambition of a player who once represented Iceland at youth level.

"Playing for the US senior team would be a dream come true." — Cole Campbell

Campbell's decision to choose the US after previously representing Iceland at U17 level has also drawn attention. This phenomenon of association switches is increasingly common in modern football, where young players with multicultural backgrounds choose the country that offers clearer prospects for an international career. The US, with its large immigrant population and a league that continues to grow, is an attractive destination for diaspora talent.

For Indonesian football, this development can serve as a mirror. The Indonesian national team is also aggressively pursuing naturalizations and approaches to players of Indonesian descent. The US's success in embracing players like Campbell shows the importance of cross-border talent monitoring systems and the courage to give young players debuts. PSSI and the Indonesian national team coach can learn lessons about how to build a consistent pathway from youth teams to the senior side.

Going forward, the US friendlies will be a stage for Campbell and the other debutants to prove themselves. If they can perform impressively, it is not impossible that they will become core parts of the 2026 World Cup squad. Meanwhile, Indonesian football fans are waiting to see whether similar steps will also be taken to strengthen the national team on the international stage.