Augsburg defender Noahkai Banks won't be called up for the U.S. men's national team's upcoming friendlies as he continues to decide whether to play for the United States or Germany.
The 19-year-old is eligible
to play for both countries, having been born in Hawaii and lived in Germany since he was a child. He recently said he will make his decision by the end of the year.
"Yes," USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino said Monday, Sept. 7, when asked if he's been in touch with Banks.
"We are in contact with all the potential dual-nationals," Pochettino said. "That human connection is important if one day they feel they can defend and they want to fight and be part of our national team. (But) Noahkai is still in the same situation that he was before the World Cup when we talked."
Banks has never represented Germany internationally, playing for the United States at the youth level and getting called up for the USMNT's camp last September. He was in consideration for Pochettino's World Cup roster, but effectively took himself out of the running by turning down a call-up for a pair of March friendlies.
Banks said he found himself "torn" between staying with the United States and playing for Germany. He recently told Bild he would make his decision by the November international window at the latest.
"I told both of them that I just wanted to concentrate on the start of the season now," he said. "But I know that I have to decide by the next international break or at the latest by the international break after next."
Banks said last month that watching the USMNT at the World Cup was bittersweet, but insisted he had to take a more long-term approach toward his international decision.
"I watched with mixed feelings and was happy for the guys because they all made me feel so welcome back then," he told Kicker.
"Every now and then I told myself it would be cool to be there. But I didn’t dwell on it. I’m not the type to regret things in hindsight. I made my decision with the future in mind, and it’s the right one."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino continues to court Augsburg prospect
