USMNT camp opens without Noahkai Banks, the 19-year-old defender who chose Germany over the U.S.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — Mauricio Pochettino on Monday opened his first U.S. training camp since the World Cup — and first since he signed a long-term contract to remain the head coach.

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Because of club activity Sunday, many European-based players summoned for the build up to four friendlies over 16 days were missing; most are expected to train here Tuesday at the national training center 25 miles south of Atlanta.

In all, 28 call-ups, including 13 who’ve never worn a senior jersey, will launch the four-year cycle steaming toward the 2030 World Cup. There are eight teenagers, 12 players returning from this summer’s Round-of-16 appearance and one former starter (Yunus Musah) returning to the fold after an 18-month absence.

But another player — one without any U.S. appearances on his portfolio but who carried the potential to jump into the lineup soon — isn’t here. It’s not because he’s injured or because Pochettino passed him over.

It’s because Noahkai Banks chose to play for Germany instead.

Noahkai Banks, born in Hawaii to an American father and German mother, reported to a U.S. senior camp last September, but filed a one-time FIFA switch to play for Germany instead.John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF via Getty Images

Last week, the German federation named the 19-year-old defender to its under-21 national squad — a thunderbolt signaling the 6-foot-4 dual national had finally made up his mind after weighing international options the past year. Because he had represented the U.S. in youth competition, Banks needed to apply to FIFA to make a one-time switch.

You win some, you lose some.

Actually, the U.S. has won more than it has lost: Numerous players eligible for multiple countries have opted for the U.S. over the years, including 2026 World Cup members Folarin Balogun, Sergiño Dest, Ricardo Pepi, Malik Tillman and Alex Zendejas.

Some, however, have gone the other way.

Some 20 years ago, New Jersey native Giuseppe Rossi chose Italy over the U.S. and recorded 30 appearances and seven goals for the Azzurri.

Dual nationals are prominent throughout soccer. Norwegian superstar Erling Haaland, French standout Michael Olise and German maestro Jamal Musiala were all eligible to play for England.

The son of an American father and German mother, the Hawaiian-born Banks served on U.S. youth national teams and reported to Pochettino’s senior camp last September. He has lived in Germany much of his life, though, and developed his skills at Bundesliga club Augsburg before catching German eyes.

Still undecided last March before the final set of friendlies before World Cup training camp, Banks all but ruled himself out of the competition.

U.S. officials hoped he would commit to the 2030 World Cup cycle soon. Ten days before he named his roster for this camp, Pochettino said the U.S. had remained in contact with Banks.

"That human connection is important because if one day they feel they want to fight and to be part of our national team — and if we consider they deserve to be involved — of course, we are going to call," Pochettino said on Sept. 7.

Banks soon made up his mind.

“We want players that show commitment but commitment is not 50 percent. It’s 200 percent,” Pochettino told reporters in New York on Friday, following the German roster announcement. “He was honest because every time we contact[ed] him with the possibility to join us, he said, ‘No, still in doubt. I don't know if I want to pick USA or Germany.’ … We want players with no doubt. We want players that are commit[ted] and desperate to play for the badge and play for us.”

Given Germany’s superior depth, Banks would have had a better chance of playing for the U.S. right away and making an immediate case for the 2030 World Cup. With Germany, he will need to work up from the under-21s.

Germany could use the help, as well. Since winning their fourth World Cup trophy in 2014, the Germans twice failed to advance out of the group stage, then lost to Paraguay in the Round of 32 this summer.

Banks has yet to speak publicly about his decision.

His decision comes as Pochettino is looking to expand the player pool through the introduction of several young players at this training camp. While Pochettino invited two-thirds of the World Cup back three — Crystal Palace’s Chris Richards, 26, and Villarreal’s Alex Freeman, 22 — captain Tim Ream, who will turn 39 next month, was expectedly left out. (He’ll be honored before the Sept. 29 friendly vs. Chile in St. Louis, his hometown.)

Pochettino also summoned Cincinnati’s Miles Robinson, 29, and Celtic’s Auston Trusty, 28, from the World Cup squad but left out Toulouse’s Mark McKenzie, 27. He also passed over Celtic’s Cameron Carter-Vickers, 28, who was on the 2022 World Cup squad.

West Bromwich Albion’s George Campbell, 25, returns for the first time since debuting in January 2025 and Philadelphia’s Neil Pierre, a 6-foot-5 18-year-old, is in the mix amid a breakout season in Major League Soccer.

In other words, Pochettino is seeking fresh options in central defense. Alas, Banks would have been a nice one.

USMNT camp notes

Richards was granted time off for personal reasons and won’t begin workouts until Wednesday, a team spokesman said. … Forward Damion Downs, 22, reported to camp as a replacement for Pepi, who was injured in PSV Eindhoven’s match Sunday. … The U.S. will train in Georgia through Thursday before flying to Orlando ahead of Saturday’s friendly vs. Peru.

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