United States men's national team manager Mauricio Pochettino said talented defender Noahkai Banks informed him of his decision to represent Germany rather than the U.S. but said he's looking for players fully devoted to the Stars and Stripes.
“We want players who show commitment,” Pochettino told reporters in New York ahead of the MLS match between New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls. “Commitment is not 50%, it’s 200%. But it’s good, he was honest. We want players who want to commit and are desperate to play for the badge. That’s the most important thing.”
Banks was born in Hawaii and represented the United States at the youth level. He also attended a senior U.S. camp but didn't play. He is eligible for Germany, where he has played 36
matches with Augsburg since his 2024 debut, and opted to join Germany's U-21 team for Euro qualification matches at that age level.
That meant Banks needed to file a one-time change of association request with FIFA. That was granted Friday, Sept. 18, meaning Banks will now only be able to suit up for German teams going forward.
Noahkai Banks' one-time switch from the U.S. to Germany was approved yesterday.
— Jon Arnold (@jonarnoldfc.bsky.social) 2026-09-19T14:38:39.647Z
"We want players that are committed and desperate to play for the badge and play for us, and that is the most important thing," Pochettino said. "Of course, it's a thing that we need to deal" with often, he continued, given the nature of the United States' historic welcome toward immigrants and immigrants' role in building the sport in the U.S.
The manager said he has faith in the U.S. Soccer Federation's mechanisms when it comes to wooing new talent, saying "I think that organization is so strong. U.S. Soccer is an organization that is above any player, any name, any dual national."
While Banks' case differs in that he spent most of his development time outside MLS, Pochettino's roster for September and October friendly matches against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada show that the young generation of players the U.S. hopes will form the base of the 2030 World Cup roster often has options.
What other dual nationals is USMNT recruiting?
Julian Hall, the 19-year-old forward who scored to give the Red Bulls a derby victory, is eligible for Poland. Cavan Sullivan, the 16-year-old sensation who has six MLS goals this season and earned his first call-up from Pochettino, has a German passport and also has twin older brothers who represent Bangladesh internationally. Sullivan's club teammate, towering Philadelphia Union center back Neil Pierre, is eligible for Haiti.
"When some young players received the notice that they were called for the first team, some players cried," Pochettino said. They were "very emotional because it was their dream, because they decided to play for the national team.
"What we want is that, is to feel that passion for every single kid that is going to join us."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USMNT coach wants players who are 'committed' after prospect picks Germany
