The most pressing issue around the USMNT right now is the collapsed transfer of Folarin Balogun. The striker looked set to join Everton in a deal worth around $54 million, but the move fell apart on deadline day, leaving one of the team's standout performers from this summer's World Cup without a resolved club situation. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino has since broken his silence, confirming he will speak to Balogun in the coming days to offer personal support after what he described as a turbulent window for the 25-year-old.

Balogun's situation sits against a broader backdrop of scrutiny surrounding his World Cup involvement. The Belgian Football Association has demanded answers from FIFA over the controversial decision to lift his suspension during the tournament, a ruling that contributed to Belgium withdrawing their support for Gianni Infantino's re-election bid. That controversy adds an uncomfortable layer to Balogun's profile heading into the new international cycle.

Elsewhere in the squad, Pochettino confirmed that Augsburg defender Noahkai Banks will not be considered for the upcoming September camp. Banks has been weighing his international options between the US and Germany since removing himself from World Cup consideration in March, and that decision remains unresolved.

With a friendly against Peru scheduled for September 26, Pochettino faces his next camp with key questions still open, particularly around Balogun's form and availability as the striker navigates life without a transfer.