Red Bull New York youngsters Julian Hall and Adri Mehmeti were named to Mauricio Pochettino’s 28-player squad on Thursday.
Both players are expected to be handed their first USMNT caps during the September–October international window, which runs from September 21 to October 6. The United States will play four international friendlies during that period against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada.
Hall was with his mother, Agnes, when he learned of the news of his call-up.
“I was at home in New York with my mom and you know it was an emotional moment for me,” Hall said on Thursday at RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center in Morris Township, New Jersey. “I grew up watching the national team and World Cups and things like that, so yeah, it was a great moment.”
Mehmeti also was spending time with family when he was informed via e-mail that he was part of Pochettino’s squad.
“I’m really excited, of course,” Mehmeti said. “Obviously, I represented the youth national team, and to represent the senior national team, it’s a big step for me in my career. But I’m excited, I’m ready to go. I was just scrolling through TikTok on my phone on the couch, and then I got the email. It said, ‘You’ve been selected,’ and yeah, I was really happy. I told my mom, my dad, my sister, and they’re all very happy for me too.”
Mehmeti, Hall Have Grown Together From Red Bull New York Academy Days
Having come through the Red Bull New York Academy together and taken every step alongside one another to first-team stardom, Mehmeti and Hall have always shared a special bond.
“We’re very close friends on and off the field, of course and to represent our country in the senior national team with him, it’s gonna be an even better experience to do with him,” Mehmeti explained. “Growing up in the academy, we played with each other for a very long time. So again I’m very happy to do it with him and I know he’s very excited so we’re gonna go there with a 100 percent focus and just give everything we have.”
“It’s pretty crazy to be honest,” Hall added. “I never really imagined that we would come up together, and he’s one of my closest friends even off the field, so to be able to achieve every step with him has been really special.”
Full USMNT Roster Announced
Here is the entire U.S. squad that was selected by Pochettino ahead of September’s training camp.
GOALKEEPERS (4): Chris Brady (Chicago Fire; 1/0), Matt Freese (New York City FC; 19/0), Diego Kochen (Lyngby Boldklub/DEN; 0/0), Brian Schwake (Nashville SC; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (10): George Campbell (West Bromwich Albion FC/ENG; 1/0), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 44/3), Alex Freeman (Villarreal/ESP; 22/3), Peyton Miller (New England Revolution; 0/0), Neil Pierre (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 40/3), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 58/5), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 41/3), Auston Trusty (Celtic/SCO; 10/1), Frankie Westfield (Philadelphia Union; 0/0)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth/ENG; 58/2), Mathis Albert (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 0/0), Sebastian Berhalter (Middlesbrough/ENG; 18/2), Zavier Gozo (Crystal Palace/ENG; 0/0), Adri Mehmeti (Red Bull New York; 0/0), Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA; 47/1), Brooklyn Raines (New England Revolution; 0/0), Gio Reyna (RC Strasbourg Alsace/FRA; 43/10), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen/GER; 35/5)
FORWARDS (5): Cole Campbell (SV Elversberg/GER; 0/0); Justin Ellis (Orlando City SC; 0/0), Julian Hall (Red Bull New York; 0/0), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 42/13), Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union; 0/0)
Hall has scored nine goals and contributed five assists through 25 MLS matches. There was some speculation that he would choose to represent Poland through his mother’s ancestry.
Mehmeti similarly could have chosen the United States or Albania. He previously represented the U.S. and Albania at under-15 level.
Now, they’ll both have an opportunity to represent the Stars and Stripes together on the international stage.
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