The United States men’s national soccer team faces Paraguay in a friendly game at Chester’s Subaru Park tomorrow, the final chance to see the American squad here before next year’s FIFA World Cup.
The first game of the penultimate international window for the USMNT kicks off at 5 p.m., and can also be watched live on TNT and Telemundo 62, if you’re not heading to Chester.
The U.S. team has no players from the local Philadelphia Union team on its roster — but four players with local ties are on coach Mauricio Pochettino’s squad.
For them, the chance to return to their home turf is special.
“To have four Philly products here, back, after seeing the club grow each and every year, this is something special, something that we won’t take for granted for sure,” said one of those locals, defender Mark McKenzie, on Wednesday.
While Lincoln Financial Field will host six World Cup games, the USMNT’s group stage games will take place on the West Coast. The possibility that the team might play in Philly on July 4, as part of a round-of-16 game, won’t be determined till the tournament draw in December.
But these are the local players to root a little bit louder for during tomorrow’s game.
Brenden Aaronson
Nicknamed the “Medford Messi” for his New Jersey roots, Aaronsen came up through the Union’s academy and reserve side. He finished second in the 2019 rookie of the year voting, and followed that up as a key part of the team that secured the 2020 MLS Supporters’ Shield, given to the team with the best regular-season record.
Aaronsen left Philly to join Austrian team Red Bull Salzburg, then English side Leeds United, which currently plays in the English Premier League.
The 25-year-old forward participated in the 2022 World Cup and has played the second-most games for the U.S. on the current roster.
“Being back home is, of course, amazing,” Aaronsen said while sitting next to McKenzie. “We’re both really lucky that this is the first time that the national team has been in Philly I think since we’ve been on them.”
Matt Freese
Freese started his pro career as a backup goaltender for the Union, after playing for Harvard University and the Union’s youth squad. He was on the field for the team’s Supporters’ Shield-clinching win in 2020.
Since 2023, though, the Wayne, Pa. native has been playing for Philly’s league rivals, New York City FC. He was on the field for the Union’s second-ever Supporter’s Shield win this past October, but this time from the opposing goal.
“Feels great to be in Philly, obviously, definitely looking forward to the game this Saturday,” Freess said on Monday. “Probably some differing fan experiences from my end. But I love playing here. I’m sure it’s going to be a great atmosphere on Saturday.”
He’ll be back at Subaru Park on Nov. 23, when NYCFC faces off against the Union in the conference semifinals stage of the postseason. Aaronsen said that it’s apparent that Freese is already “locked in” for that contest.
“Of course he loves the place, I think he loves Philadelphia, he’s connected in ways. But you can tell when he’s here he needs to be focused on NYCFC,” Aaronsen said. “He’s not Philly, you know what I mean? So I think you can kind of see it going in his head a little bit.”
The 27-year-old has the most international experience of the current roster of ‘keepers.
Mark McKenzie
McKenzie, 26, was born in the Bronx, but grew up in Bear, Del., which is how he found his way to the Union’s academy and senior side. He is the first player from the “First State” to make the national team’s World Cup roster.
McKenzie spent five seasons with the Union II — then called Bethlehem Steel — and the Union’s senior team. He played a season at Wake Forest University too.
After Philly’s 2020 season, he moved to Belgian side Genk, where he played for four seasons before a transfer to French side Toulouse. He won the Belgian Cup with Genk.
Auston Trusty
The Media native played two seasons with the Union before he was traded to the Colorado Rapids in 2020. From there, he moved to Premier League giant Arsenal, but was loaned back to the Rapids and then to Birmingham City in England’s second level while he was on the Gunners’ books.
Trusty then moved to Sheffield United and now is with one of Scotland’s two big Glasgow teams, Celtic, which won both the Scottish League and Cup last season.
The 27-year-old defender has maintained his Philly ties, training with the Union in the offseason and holding a spot on the board of the team’s youth academy, according to the Inquirer.
Who else could make the World Cup roster?
On the Union, defender Nathan Harriel picked up his first three national team caps this year and should be in the conversation. Quinn Sullivan, the older brother of the Union’s 16-year-old prodigy Cavan, was also called up for national team games, but tore his ACL ligament in September and will be recovering for months.
As far as other Union alums, Jack McGlynn, now with the Houston Dynamo, and Brendan’s younger brother Paxten Aaronson, who plays for the Colorado Rapids, have played with the U.. team this year. Rapids goalkeeper Zach Steffen, from Coatesville in Chester County, was briefly in the Union’s youth system and is one of the most experienced options available at the position.
Outside of the Union’s sphere, Hershey, Pa. native and current captain Christian Pulisic is obviously a lock. He currently has six goals and two assists for Italian side AC Milan this season.
Other World Cup news
The mascots for next year’s World Cup made their first visit to Philly on Friday, to help welcome potential volunteers for Philly’s part in the tournament.
Clutch the American Bald Eagle, Maple the Canadian Moose and Zayu the Mexican Jaguar cheered on prospective candidates ahead of their interviews at the tournament’s volunteer center in Market East’s Fashion District mall. Philly’s World Cup organizers received more than 26,000 applications for the volunteer positions. They’ll select just over 3,000, with interviews running through Dec. 20.
The volunteers will help guide soccer fans around Lincoln Financial Field, the Lemon Hill fanfest, Philadelphia International Airport and other popular transport locations throughout the length of the 2026 tournament.
