The last time Sergiño Dest played for the U.S. Men’s National Team, he raised the Concacaf Nations League trophy.
That was in March 2024, just a month before Dest tore his ACL while playing for his club team PSV.
Dest rehabbed the injury to return to the field in March 2025. He was initially on the USMNT roster for the June friendlies this summer, but he left camp early to work on an individualized training program to recover fully.
Now, Dest joins 22 other players selected by head coach Mauricio Pochettino for the September friendlies against Korea Republic and Japan.
“All [players] are in a place to compete for the final roster for the World Cup,” Pochettino said after the roster announcement. “Of course it's my test — it's our test — to select the players, but also it's up to them to perform and to show that they are desperate to come to the National Team.”
Since the European leagues began the 2025-26 season, Dest has been on a tear for PSV. He scored in back-to-back matches, first to lift the Dutch Super Cup trophy and then again to begin the Eredivisie season. He also tallied an assist and earned Man of the Match honors early in the season.
Dest earned his first USMNT cap in 2019, and the right back has been an important piece ever since. He competed in his first FIFA World Cup in 2022 and started all four matches. After along journey back, the 24-year-old defender is hitting his stride as the U.S. gets set to host the World Cup next summer.
