Christian Pulisic has always led the way on this U.S. men’s national team, the tone-setter who has been called upon in the program’s highest moments. With fewer than a year to make the World Cup, however, the U.S. will be forced to break out of a deep rut with its most important player. Pulisic won’t be part of the U.S. Gold Cup team, based on informed sources on Wednesday night.
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Fox Sports remained the first to break the news. The 26-year-old winger reportedly needs some rest following a long season in AC Milan. He has played and coped with various minor injuries throughout the entire Serie A season. His absence is a significant setback for the U.S. squad as they prepare for crucial upcoming tournaments.
The logic is that holding Pulisic rested throughout the Gold Cup will enhance his prospects of staying healthy for next year and, by default, next year’s World Cup. All of that whitethorn be factual and sound. The impact of a more congested calendar on the players is more in the spotlight than ever, and we won’t get the official reasons for Pulisic’s omission until U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino talks on Thursday.
But it’s not an ideal situation for the player and not an ideal break for this American program that whose top player and face of the program is sitting out this tournament. The U.S. is in the middle of a deep funk. It was removed in the collection stage in previous summertime’s Copa USA and then swept sideways in the Nations League rounds by Panama in March, beforehand losing the third-place match to Canada.
Vibes around this squad are sadly low. The Gold Cup was destined to be a possible salve to the side’s ethos and the fanbase’s faith in it. Particularly before a home-based World Cup, it remained. It is also the primary time that Pochettino has had more than a short-lived global window with his Europe-based players.
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That has real value for a new coach trying not only to install a system but to fix the internal attitude and mindset. Pulisic himself begged Pochettino to fix just that last Sep. Let’s be confident he’s a man that’s going to originate in and change the ethos around here, Pulisic thought at the time.
Now, Pulisic appears to be relinquishing that chance for a summer of cultural renewal. The U.S. had previously been victimized by the FIFA Club World Cup this summer. Weston McKennie and Tim Weah, two of its consistent USMNT starters, will be attending that tournament with Juventus and not representing the U.S.
Gio Reyna, who was once a promising prospect, is fighting for playing time at the club level, but will be at Borussia Dortmund for the Club World Cup, too. Pulisic’s Milan colleague Yunus Musah’s determination will also be lost, we are knowledgeable by The Athletic’s basis, so the U.S. will lack five of its so-called “excellent generation” stars this summer.
It doesn’t necessarily mean that the team will be remade entirely. Some of the greatest valuable companies are still successful in the team. Left spinal Antonee Robinson, correct back Sergiño Dest, onward Folarin Balogun and midfielders Rebel Cardoso then Malik Tillman, who altogether didn’t eye in the States League debacle, remained part of the 60-man initial list and must be in the team.
World Cup team head Tyler Adams is too obligated, by way of his FA Cup champion Chris Richards. The lack of those other power players means chances might be given to players who are desperate to be a force and whose desperation can be an asset to this team. The initial lineup featured the likes of Diego Luna, a Nations League star, and Brenden Aaronson and Alejandro Zendejas.
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Those who were omitted from the last squad will be hungry to make a point. A wildcard might even be able to sneak in there if they catch a glimpse. The silver lining on that is that when one of the players opens up a gap, it opens it up for another. But the fact is, nobody can fill Pulisic’s shoes. The 2026 World Cup has been hyped for a while now as a tipping point for the sport in this nation.
Pulisic is inescapably the most recognized American on the national team. The burden that comes with that recognition is enormous. His not being there, especially now, cuts deeper. When Pochettino was borrowed last Sep, he was hypothetical to be a preserver. His golden resume and worldwide reputation were supposed to calm some of the diehards.
who were turning on the program and blaming former coach Gregg Berhalter for everything that wasn’t right. Part of the worth of Pochettino’s hiring was that it would put the pressure back on the players. That has been the reality in spades. The Nations League opened eyes. The team did not appear to care. Admirers and alumnae decried a side that they supposed was permitted and lazy.
Since the 2022 World Cup, Pulisic has been one of the only American players to continue moving forward in his game. He’s become relied upon to deliver week in and week out for AC Milan, and has done so in large part. Of any of the so-called “golden cohort,” the play and readiness to donate of the winger have remained there. These players are my everything,” Pulisic said on Paramount+ after the Nations League losses. I hope people get that about me. It’s truly an honor to captain this country.
It’s hard for me to put it into words that it doesn’t mean just as much that he’s not here at this tournament a year before the World Cup, though. You can’t help but recall something Pochettino said the day he was hired as the U.S. coach. When asked if it bothered him that he didn’t have any true competitive games under his belt going into the World Cup, Pochettino responded with that.
“When I occupy myself with the genus Argentina, Copa America, World Cup, or friendlies, it remains the same,” he said. “To demonstrate you are the finest and to win the willing for your republic, for your pride and all. Because that is what existence is competitive. We remain successful in being employed on that.” This Gold Cup remained successful in being a test of that keenness and desire. That 1 of its leaders won’t be here is a rough twist to the assessment.
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