Christian Pulisic will not be participating in this summer’s Gold Cup, as confirmed by U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker. The AC Milan winger requested to be left out of the tournament squad, citing the physical toll of his recent schedule at both club and international level.
Pulisic, who played more than 3,500 minutes this season for the Italian side, reportedly reached out to the U.S. federation and coaching staff before the announcement. The 26-year-old and his representatives highlighted the need for rest, leading to a mutual agreement with the national team management.
“Christian and his team approached the federation and the coaching staff about the possibility of stepping back this summer,” Crocker stated, noting that the decision was made to prioritize the player’s long-term condition. “After thoughtful discussions and careful consideration, we made the collective decision that this is the right moment for him to get the rest he needs.”
The intention is to ensure Pulisic is physically ready for the next season and the buildup to the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in North America. Despite his absence, the national team will push forward with preparations for the continental championship starting in June.
Other high-profile omissions and roster details
Pulisic is not the only established name left out. Midfielders Giovanni Reyna, Weston McKennie, and winger Timothy Weah will also be missing due to club commitments. All three are set to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup, which overlaps with the start of the Gold Cup on June 14.
Fulham’s Antonee Robinson, widely regarded as one of the top-performing left backs in England, was a surprising exclusion. Another unexpected absence was Yunus Musah, who shares club duties with Pulisic at Milan.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino unveiled a 27-man preliminary roster for the tournament’s training camp. This list includes several domestic league standouts and international-based players, with a final version to be reduced by June 4.
USMNT training camp squad for the Gold Cup
The squad is spread across goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards. In goal, Matt Freese (New York City FC), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids), and Matt Turner (Crystal Palace) are the selected options.
Defenders named include Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Alex Freeman (Orlando City), and veterans like Tim Ream (Charlotte FC) and Chris Richards (Crystal Palace).
In the midfield group are Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC), and Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven), alongside several younger domestic talents.
Up front, the squad features Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Haji Wright (Coventry City), and Damion Downs (FC Köln), joined by MLS contributors such as Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC) and Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps).
