Landon Donovan questions Noahkai Banks’ commitment after teenager declines USMNT invite

Landon Donovan isn’t pulling any punches regarding Noahkai Banks‘ decision to decline his latest USMNT call-up. As the teenage dual-national opts to remain with Augsburg rather than join Mauricio Pochettino’s squad, the American soccer icon made it clear that the national team shirt shouldn’t be a secondary priority.

“If someone does not want to play for your country, good riddance. Goodbye,” Donovan told Tim Howard on the Unfiltered Soccer podcast.

“And I’m not mad at him. He can make his decision. But now, I don’t care about you anymore. I don’t.”

Banks has emerged as a standout performer in the Bundesliga this season, sparking high hopes for his future in the U.S. defensive rotation. His absence looms large as Pochettino begins the critical process of narrowing down his core roster ahead of the 2026 World Cup on home soil.

Pochettino sets the stage for European friendlies

With high-profile tests against Belgium and Portugal on the horizon, Pochettino has summoned a 27-man roster. The selection reflects a “win-now” mentality, leaning on established European stalwarts while filtering in a few MLS standouts.

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The full 27-man roster:

• Goalkeepers (4): Chris Brady, Matt Freese, Patrick Schulte, Matt Turner.
• Defenders (9): Max Arfsten, Alex Freeman, Mark McKenzie, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Miles Robinson, Joe Scally, Auston Trusty.
• Midfielders (8): Sebastian Berhalter, Johnny Cardoso, Weston McKennie, Aidan Morris, Gio Reyna, Cristian Roldan, Tanner Tessmann, Malik Tillman.
• Forwards (6): Brenden Aaronson, Patrick Agyemang, Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah.

The ‘Banks’ sized hole in the defense

While the roster is deep, Banks’ absence is a notable storyline. Given his elite statistical profile at the club level, many viewed this window as the perfect opportunity to “cap-tie” the youngster and solidify the backline.

For now, the door remains open, but if Donovan’s sentiment reflects the internal culture of the squad, Banks may find the road back to the national team much steeper than he anticipated.