For the first time since January, the U.S. men’s national team is slated to play a couple of games.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, international games have been more difficult to stage, as hundreds of games have been canceled.

A long freezeout is set to end for the U.S. with a game on November 12 against Wales, and on November 16 against Panama (in Austria).

The combination of playoffs in Major League Soccer and the pandemic has led Gregg Berhalter to call up a roster of 24 players based mostly from European teams. Several are new faces that may be unfamiliar, with 10 uncapped players on the roster.

Below is a look at some of the younger players in the squad and their background.

M/D Owen Otasowie, Wolverhampton Wanderers

The hulking central midfielder, born in 2001, is rising quickly for the English Premier League club. He’s had previous experience with the U.S. Under-18 men’s national team, and even if he doesn’t make his debut for the USMNT next week, could be a fixture in any hypothetical 2021 Under-20 World Cup squad. His soft feet, big frame and intelligence in both thought and decision-making suggest that a debut could be on the cards next week.

M Johnny Cardoso, Internacional

The lone player on the roster from outside Europe, Cardoso was born in New Jersey to Brazilian parents, moving to South America before eventually joining Internacional. This isn’t his first call-up to a U.S. squad, making an appearance with the U.S. Under-23 MNT in October 2019. The 19-year-old central midfielder is a pass-first type that can operate as the deep-lying No. 6 depending on how Berhalter elects to lineup his team.

M Yunus Musah, Valencia

Perhaps the most surprising name on the roster, Musah is an England youth international that was born in New York City. Having broken through with Spanish side Valencia, he’s a candidate to start on the right side for Berhalter’s side -- although in a press conference this week, Berhalter talked about Musah's potential to shift in centrally. There’s no guarantee he’ll end up playing for the United States even if he appears next week, as Musah is also eligible to play for Italy and Ghana. Still only 17 years old, his involvement in the upcoming camp will be fascinating, considering that he hasn’t appeared for a U.S. team at any age group.

F Nicholas Gioacchini, Caen

Another played called up by Berhalter from outside the U.S. youth national team pipeline, Giocchhini is a forward that can play up front or on the wing. He plays for Caen, a French club in Ligue 2 he first joined back in 2018. Born in Kansas City to an Italian father, he lived in Italy, back to the United States and then on to France in 2015. After first playing for Paris FC, the attacker made his move to Caen where he made his debut during the 2019-20 season. He scored four goals in 22 games last year, as Caen missed out on promotion to the first division.

GK Chituru Odunze, Leicester City

A mammoth goalkeeper that played with the U.S. Under-17 MNT during the 2019 World Cup cycle, Odunze is one of three shot-stoppers called up. The 18-year-old came through the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy, before being transferred to Leicester City in England in August 2019. Another player eligible for a handful of national teams – Odunze has Canadian and English citizenships – he’s unlikely to feature but another promising prospect heading to camp.

D Christopher Richards, Bayern Munich

One of the most well-known prospects on the roster, Richards made his debut for Bayern Munich earlier this year, having first joining the club in 2018. His path to the Bavarian giants is a fascinating one. From Birmingham, Alabama, he moved to Texas to join Texans SC Houston after failing to latch on in the FC Dallas Academy. After excelling for Texas, leading his team to the 2017 Development Academy title, Richards joined FCD, signing a contract with the team in April 2018. Since then, his meteoric rise has taken the central defender to Germany, and a key role with the U.S. Under-20 MNT during the 2019 U20 World Cup. Arguably the top center back prospect in the pool, he could play as a right back in a pinch but seems likely to at least get a look from the bench over the next week.

F Sebastian Soto, Telstar SC

Another U20 World Cup veteran, Soto looks to have his career back on track after signing with Norwich City this summer. Loaned out to Telstar SC in the Dutch Second Division, he’s made a promising start with five goals from his first six games. A classic poacher that still has plenty to prove at a first-team level, his ability to find space and finish the bulk of his chances are some of what makes him special. He’s one of the players that could potentially earn a start with rumors swirling that Werder Bremen won’t allow Josh Sargent join the camp due to COVID-19 concerns.

M Richie Ledezma, PSV Eindhoven

On the week he made his debut for PSV Eindhoven’s first team, Ledezma was tabbed by Berhalter for the friendlies. He’s certainly one player to benefit from the roster’s Euro-centric trend, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t deserving. While not the most influential player, he’s logged heavy minutes for Jong PSV in the Dutch Second Division. Another U.S. youth national team veteran, Ledezma’s ability to execute Berhalter’s plan and demands from his central midfielders will dictate the minutes he is able to see in the upcoming games.

F Konrad de la Fuente, FC Barcelona

Any time an American pops up at a big European club, it attracts the kind of headlines and clicks that can lure even the more casual U.S. Soccer fan. And that’s not meant to disparage de la Fuente, who has played for the La Liga power at several levels of the academy. He also appeared at the Under-20 World Cup for the U.S., and can give Berhalter an attacking option from the bench in these friendlies. A direct and classic winger, he can tend to be a bit one-footed. He’s knocking on the door of the Barcelona first team after extending his deal earlier in 2020 and is a regular for FC Barcelona’s B team. Can he sneak in a start in either of these two upcoming friendlies?