Red Bulls Midfielder Daniel Edelman Earns First USMNT Call-Up; Harrison Celebrates
The 23-year-old defensive midfielder has been one of the most consistent players in MLS this season, and his first call-up to the senior national team is being celebrated as a breakthrough moment for Red Bulls’ homegrown program.
By Jimmy Ng · August 1, 2026 · 4 min read
HARRISON, N.J. — The United States Men’s National Team released its roster for the September FIFA international window on Thursday morning, and when Red Bulls midfielder Daniel Edelman’s name appeared on the list, the reaction from the club and its supporters was immediate and emotional.
Edelman, 23, becomes the first Red Bulls homegrown player to earn a senior USMNT call-up since Tyler Adams in 2017 — a comparison the club is careful not to overstate but clearly proud to draw. Like Adams, Edelman is a defensive midfielder who organizes the press, covers ground relentlessly, and brings a composure in possession that belies his age.
U.S. national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino cited Edelman’s consistency over the past eight months as the primary basis for the call-up. “Daniel has been one of the best midfielders in MLS this season,” Pochettino said in a statement. “He does the things that don’t show up in the highlight reel but that coaches see immediately.” Edelman has completed 89 percent of his passes this season and leads the league in defensive actions per 90 minutes among midfielders.
The call-up arrives at a complicated moment for the Red Bulls, who are fighting for a playoff spot with eight games remaining. Edelman will miss two league matches for the international window, a scheduling conflict that head coach Troy Lesesne acknowledged but called a “wonderful problem to have.” The club is entitled to release him for the FIFA dates and will not stand in his way.
Edelman grew up in Hoboken and attended Red Bull’s development academy from the age of 14. He signed his first professional contract at 17 and spent two years with Red Bulls II in MLS Next Pro before breaking into the first team. His arc from Hoboken to the USMNT is the story the Red Bulls’ academy program tells prospective recruits every year.
“I’ve worked my whole life for this,” Edelman said in a brief statement released through the club. “But right now we have eight games left and a playoff spot to win. The national team will be there. Our job is to make sure this club is in the postseason.” The Red Bulls host Chicago Fire on Saturday before the international window opens.