Why Cristian Roldan Keeps Getting USMNT Call-Ups — And Why It Makes Sense
Why Does He Keep Getting Called Up?
Cristian Roldan has been called up to the last two USMNT camps, much to the chagrin of many fans. The question is: why does he keep getting selected by Mauricio Pochettino? And why was he also called up for the 2022 World Cup by Gregg Berhalter? What do these coaches see?
On November 9th, 2022, the USMNT released its final roster for the World Cup in Qatar. To the surprise of many, Cristian Roldan was named among the 26. Why did Berhalter select him? Berhalter has repeatedly stated that Roldan’s team-first mentality and daily work ethic are invaluable, describing his energy as “contagious.”
In addition, Roldan’s versatility is a huge asset. He can play as a holding midfielder, box-to-box midfielder, attacking midfielder, or even fill in at right back. Whenever he’s called upon to play at a higher level, he often rises to the occasion.
The Sounders’ Historic 2022 CCL Run
A prime example came during the Seattle Sounders’ historic 2022 CONCACAF Champions League win — the first by an MLS team. Facing Liga MX opponent Pumas UNAM in a two-legged final, Roldan played a major role.
In the first leg in Mexico City, the match ended 2–2 under high pressure. Roldan helped the Sounders maintain intensity, showcasing his defensive energy and relentless ball-winning. Late in second-half stoppage time, he made a run into the right side of Pumas’s penalty area, shielded the ball, and was kicked in the abdominal region and right knee by defender Efraín Velarde.
In the second leg back in Seattle, Roldan again delivered. He maintained his high defensive work rate and was a constant threat down the right flank alongside his brother, Alex Roldan. Several goal-scoring chances came from their side of the field. In the 80th minute, Cristian started the counterattack that led to Raúl Ruidíaz’s decisive goal.
The 2022 World Cup Roster Debate
When Berhalter named his World Cup roster, several players were mentioned as possible alternatives to Roldan: including Malik Tillman, Johnny Cardoso, and Jordan Pefok.
Some argued that another striker, like Pefok, should have been included instead. But in reality, Haji Wright’s form leading into the World Cup likely displaced Pefok, not Roldan.
As for Malik Tillman, he was on loan at Rangers in the Scottish Premiership and performing well, but he didn’t make his USMNT debut until 2022. It may have been too late to make a lasting impression on Berhalter, who wanted to see more consistency.
Johnny Cardoso, meanwhile, was playing regularly at Internacional but struggled to find form with the national team. Between 2020 and 2022, he only earned three caps, the last before the World Cup coming in December 2021.
Ultimately, Roldan was the 26th man on the roster. He didn’t play a single minute in Qatar — but as Berhalter described, he was there as a “glue guy.” And given the reported locker room tensions during that tournament, that role may have been more important than fans realized. His versatility also made him valuable for tactical adjustments or emergency cover during matches.
Enter Pochettino: A Fresh Start
Fast forward to 2025. In both the September and October camps, Roldan was called up again, this time by Mauricio Pochettino. The new coach explained that he and his staff had been tracking Roldan for some time but didn’t call him up until the September camp, when a roster spot opened.
That decision came after Roldan’s standout performance in the Leagues Cup Final against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, where he earned Man of the Match honors. Beyond his usual intensity, Roldan impressed with his disciplined individual marking of Messi.
Club World Cup Heroics
His performances in the Club World Cup earlier this year further cemented his case. As mentioned in a previous newsletter, Roldan was arguably the best player on the field in matches against Botafogo, Atlético Madrid, and PSG.
“Exact stats aren’t easy to define everything that Roldan did in the matches against Botafogo, Atletico Madrid and PSG. The best metric to encapsulate Roldan’s performance was the eye test. The feeling when Roldan was on the ball, or making a tackle on defense, or showing up at the right moment to keep the match from getting out of hand.
Fotmob.com rated Roldan the best player on the field against Botafogo and one of the best against Atletico and PSG.” (Source)
People often claim Roldan can’t perform at the top level but he proved otherwise against elite opposition.
USMNT Performances Under Pochettino
In the September window, Roldan came off the bench against South Korea. Though some of his passes were a bit short, his communication with both the backline and attackers was crucial. In the next match against Japan, he played the full 90 minutes, completing 82% of his passes and recording 83 touches. He also created two chances and showed excellent off-ball movement to create space for teammates.
During the October window, he came off the bench in the 73rd minute against Ecuador, a 1–1 draw where he had limited time to make an impact.
The following match against Australia was more eventful. Roldan started and, while he was partially at fault for Australia’s opening goal (scored by Jordan Bos off a throw-in), he quickly redeemed himself. In the 33rd minute, Roldan while falling, threaded a perfect through ball to Haji Wright, who finished confidently. Then, in the 51st minute, Roldan’s quick thinking led to another lofted pass into Wright’s path, resulting in a second goal.
After the match, Pochettino said:
“Cristian Roldan is an example of how if you want to build your perfect player; he has a little bit of everything.” (Source)
Final Thoughts
Whatever fans think about Cristian Roldan, he’s stepped up, not only in these recent friendlies but also against some of the best club teams in the world.
Time will tell if he makes the roster for the 2026 World Cup, but one thing’s clear: Roldan continues to prove that effort, adaptability, and mentality still matter in modern football.