COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A Columbus Crew player will play in his first major international tournament this summer with the United States national team.

24-year-old defender/midfielder Max Arfsten has been named to the final USMNT squad for the CONCACAF Gold Cup by manager Mauricio Pochettino. His Crew teammates Patrick Schulte and Sean Zawadzki were each named to the preliminary roster but injuries forced them off the squad.

Arfsten has never played with the United States in a major tournament and joins the squad with three appearances in friendlies. Former Crew midfielder Sebatian Berhalter, now of the Vancouver Whitecaps and the son of former Crew and USMNT boss Gregg Berhalter, is also on the squad.

2025 United States Gold Cup roster

  • Goalkeepers (3): Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace)
  • Defenders (9): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Alex Freeman (Orlando City), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), John Malkin (Holstein Kiel), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)
  • Midfielders (9): Brendan Aaronson (Leeds United), Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven)
  • Forwards (5): Paxten Aaronson (FC Utrecht), Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC), Damion Downs (FC Koln), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps), Haji Wright (Coventry City)

The California-native was drafted by the Crew in 2023 and joined the first team that same season. He has played 59 MLS regular season games with the Black & Gold, scoring nine goals and providing 11 assists. He has won an MLS Cup title and a Leagues Cup trophy with Columbus.

Columbus goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen was named to Guatemala’s roster for the tournament. The 28-year-old has played 47 times for Guatemala since 2018.

This year’s Gold Cup will be the last competitive games the Americans will play before hosting the FIFA World Cup next year. The United States, who last won the Gold Cup in 2021, will open the tournament in San Jose, near Arfsten’s hometown of Fresno, on June 15 against Trinidad and Tobago.

2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup groups

Group AGroup BGroup CGroup D
Mexico Canada PanamaFlag of the United States - Wikipedia United States
Costa Rica Honduras Jamaica Haiti
Suriname El Salvador Guatemala Trinidad and Tobago
Dominican Republic CuraçaoFlag of France - Wikipedia Guadeloupe Saudi Arabia

The USMNT will then travel to Austin, Texas to play Saudi Arabia on June 19 before closing group play against Haiti at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The USA must finish in the top-two of its group to advance to the knockout stage. The Gold Cup final will be on July 6 in Houston.

Before the World Cup, the Americans will come to Columbus for a friendly match against Japan on Sept. 9. The USA will play in Group D of the 2026 World Cup with two group stage games in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.