USMNT’s Mauricio Pochettino Eyes European Transfer Target Anrie Chase as Potential 2026 World Cup Starter
Chicago, June 23, 2025, 8:33 PM IST – U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) head coach Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly targeting 20-year-old VfB Stuttgart defender Anrie Chase as a potential starter for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. According to posts on X from February 2025, Pochettino and his staff are actively pursuing Chase, a dual-national Japanese-American center-back, to switch allegiance from Japan to the U.S. Chase, who has represented Japan at youth levels, is said to be open to the move, with further developments expected soon.
Chase, born in Yokosuka, Japan, to an American father and Japanese mother, has impressed in Stuttgart’s youth system and made his senior debut in the Bundesliga this season. His 6’2” frame, aerial dominance, and ball-playing ability align with Pochettino’s need for a starting-caliber center-back, a position where the USMNT lacks depth. Current starters like Chris Richards and Tim Ream face competition from Miles Robinson, but Chase’s potential could elevate the backline, especially after a 4-0 loss to Switzerland on June 17, 2025, exposed defensive frailties.
Pochettino, appointed in September 2024, has emphasized developing young talent to build a competitive squad for 2026. His interest in Chase reflects a strategy to integrate European-based players, with 11 on the current Gold Cup roster, including Brenden Aaronson and Malik Tillman. Chase’s potential switch could mirror Sergiño Dest’s 2020 decision to choose the U.S. over the Netherlands.
While Chase’s inclusion is speculative, his emergence could address a critical gap, boosting USMNT’s World Cup prospects.
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