Will the United States thrive without its decade‑long talisman? Christian Pulisic, the team’s marquee player, is absent from Mauricio Pochettino’s squad for the upcoming international break, per Doug McIntyre.
Pulisic’s recent national team run has been erratic, and the coach even swore earlier this week when the forward opted out of the 2025 Gold Cup to preserve his World Cup form.
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After exiting the World Cup loss to Belgium, Pulisic was diagnosed with a microfracture. The injury sidelined him early in AC Milan’s campaign, prompting manager Rubén Amorim to voice frustration. He bounced back impressively, earning a spot in Milan’s lineup over the weekend.
The United States will face Chile, Peru, Canada and Mexico in friendlies from Sept 26 to Oct 6, with Pochettino’s roster slated for Thursday morning.
Can the USMNT forge a new identity and succeed without Pulisic leading the charge?
For my money, the exclusion feels inevitable after months of speculation and isn’t tied to the World Cup at all.
Early in his tenure, Pochettino warned that players can’t treat the squad like a golf outing or dinner date; he demanded greater commitment.
The former Spurs manager wasn’t likely to drop Pulisic before a World Cup‑bound camp, yet he may keep the option handy if the midfielder’s form fails to improve, especially after being left out of the captain’s armband in Qatar.
Berhalter’s departure probably shocked the locker room; many veterans grew up under him and felt empowered to influence his reinstatement after the chaotic post‑2022 fallout.
Reports suggest Thursday’s roster will feature a wave of newcomers, and Pochettino is telling each they stand on equal footing, a message he’s also directing at Pulisic.
The situation echoes Landon Donovan’s retreat to Cambodia during Jurgen Klinsmann’s era, which Klinsmann later admitted contributed to the forward’s omission from the 2014 World Cup.
A similar lesson applies now: while fans may expect Pochettino to keep Pulisic in the Gold Cup pool, Donovan later revealed severe mental‑health struggles that affected his career. We’re not speculating on Pulisic, but players often have reasons beyond the obvious.
Pulisic turns 28 this Friday and remains vital for one of the globe’s elite clubs. He has earned 90 caps, netted 33 goals and delivered 23 assists, a genuine CONCACAF threat.
The next wave is arriving, and the US has performed admirably without him before. Talents like Malik Tillman, Brenden Aaronson—now in top form at Leeds—and Gio Reyna, rejuvenated at Strasbourg, could shine in a Pulisic‑less side, and the program will keep evolving.