By OkayGoal
Ricardo Pepi’s injury with PSV on Sunday has forced U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Mauricio Pochettino to make a change to his September-October roster.
Damion Downs has replaced Pepi for the upcoming camp, U.S. Soccer announced Sunday. Downs will join up with the USMNT squad ahead of Saturday’s first of four friendlies, a home showdown with Peru in Orlando, Florida.
Pepi was forced to withdraw from the camp after being substituted off 10 minutes into PSV’s eventual 3-2 Eredivisie loss to FC Twente on Sunday.
The 22-year-old Downs is currently on loan at MLS Western Conference club St. Louis CITY SC from EFL Championship side Southampton. He has made five appearances for St. Louis but is still seeking his first goal or assist.
Born in Germany, Downs played for both the German and United States youth national teams before earning a first senior USMNT call up in 2025. Downs was part of the CONCACAF Gold Cup roster that summer and has earned six caps to date, with all of them coming last year.
He joins Julian Hall, Justin Ellis, Cavan Sullivan, and Cole Campbell as the fifth forward on the USMNT roster.