Augsburg defender Noahkai Banks feels close ties to both Germany and the USA
The US men’s national team’s preparations for the World Cup could be set to receive a blow as it has emerged that teenage prospect Noahkai Banks is considering a switch to Germany. The Augsburg defender has been involved with the US set-up since 2023, but could still opt to play for Germany.
Banks, 19, has been a regular in the Bundesliga this season, attracting the attention of the German national team. Although he has been involved with the USMNT since under-17 level and was called up to a senior squad in the fall, he has yet to make a senior appearance.
Banks faces difficult decision over international allegiance
The defender was born in Honolulu and has a German mother and an American father. As he weighs up his decision between his two nations, he has expressed that this is a difficult choice for him and one he won’t be rushed into making.
“It’s a difficult decision regarding my nationality. I’m very torn,” he told Sky Sports Germany.
“I’m in contact with both the USA and Germany and both national coaches. I hopefully have a long career ahead of me, so I want to think carefully and speak with my family. I don’t want to make it dependent on a World Cup.
“I’m just happy to be in this position and to be able to make this decision. We’ll see what happens.”
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Although Banks has stressed that his decision won’t be motivated purely by this summer, it would surely only be natural to feel the pull of a tournament on home soil.
That, his existing relationship with the USMNT and the likelihood he would achieve a bigger role sooner with the Americans, may be factors when it comes to deciding between two nations he feels equal emotional ties to.
Despite the fact he has yet to receive a senior cap, USMNT legend Landon Donovan has recently suggested that Banks could be in contention to start at the World Cup under Mauricio Pochettino.
“Tim Ream is locked and going to play. Chris Richards is more than locked and going to play. I think Pochettino wants this team to have the ability to play in a back three,” Donovan said on his “Unfiltered Soccer” show.
“Your options become [Mark] McKenzie, Miles Robinson and even Noahkai Banks. He’s played on the right side of a back three earlier this season, played on the left side of a back three.
“So he’s clearly comfortable. He’s playing in the Bundesliga every week as an 18-year-old. And I just think when push comes to shove, Pochettino might go, ‘OK, yeah, he’s young. But what are the alternatives?’”
