U.S. Soccer explained why Christian Pulisic is skipping the Gold Cup and fans weren't thrilled
Christian Pulisic is coming off a career season with AC Milan. He's the face of the national team. And if any player understands his importance to the team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, it's Pulisic.
Yet, he still asked to skip national team duties this summer.
With the U.S. men's national team automatically qualifying for the 2026 World Cup as a co-host, there's an added emphasis on the few remaining USMNT matches. This summer's Gold Cup, specifically, is the lone competitive tournament before the World Cup. The rest will be friendlies during in-season international windows.
Basically, head coach Mauricio Pochettino is running out of opportunities to get it right with this squad, and now he'll be without his best player.
After reports on Wednesday that Pulisic would be excluded from the Gold Cup roster, U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker clarified that the request actually came from Pulisic's camp. The two sides ultimately agreed to let the 26-year-old sit out this summer and recover for the season ahead. He said:
"Christian and his team approached the federation and the coaching staff about the possibility of stepping back this summer, given the amount of matches he has played in the past two years at both the club and international level with very little break.
"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 objective is to ensure he's fully prepared to perform at the highest level next season."
Of course, Pulisic isn't a robot, and he played a ton of matches this year. So, it's understandable to not be excited about facing Saudi Arabia or Haiti in a mostly empty AT&T Stadium — we get it. But knowing the importance of building chemistry, he has a responsibility to be there. It doesn't suit the USMNT at all to go into a Gold Cup without its best player. Pulisic could have worked out a minutes restriction plan with Pochettino or figured out a path that allowed for rest and recovery. He didn't.
He's not going to be at the Gold Cup simply because he doesn't want to be.
The USMNT will also be without players like Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and Gio Reyna whose teams qualified for the Club World Cup oddly taking place at the same time as the Gold Cup (in the same country). Had AC Milan qualified for the Club World Cup, we know that Pulisic would not be sitting it out for rest. It shows where his priorities lie with his club-and-country duties.
And that's a troubling reality as time winds down before the World Cup. You have key players looking at USMNT duty as a burden rather than an honor. No wonder fans were upset to see Pulisic skip out on the USMNT.
This was how Twitter/X reacted
It's a terrible look. There's no way around it.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
43 minutes ago
- New York Times
FIFA slashes ticket prices for Club World Cup opener, tens of thousands unsold for Inter Miami game
FIFA has once again slashed ticket prices for the Club World Cup's opening night fixture, with concerns mounting that the launch game starring Inter Miami and Lionel Messi will be overshadowed by masses of empty seats at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens in Florida. According to sources briefed on FIFA's attempts to sell tickets for the tournament, all of whom wished to remain anonymous when disclosing commercially sensitive information, tens of thousands of seats remain unsold for the fixture between MLS side Inter Miami and Egyptian team Al-Ahly at 8pm (ET) on Saturday, June 14. Hard Rock Stadium has a capacity of 65,326. The sources added that FIFA has been concerned in recent weeks that the opening game of the tournament has not been selling as well as they had expected. It was even suggested that tickets sold for the opening game are at less than 20,000 — but FIFA insists this is false, saying the figure is 'much higher' but it did not specify numbers. Advertisement FIFA said in a statement: 'We are introducing many new, successful clubs from all over the world to the world through this tournament being staged in the 11 cities across the United States. Overall, we anticipate great attendances throughout the competition for this first-ever edition – a tournament that we believe will grow edition-on-edition.' FIFA had hoped for a big launch night turnout after involving MLS team Miami, whose star player Messi is marketed as the face of soccer in the United States, while they also expected this to be enhanced by playing the game in the team's home market. However, FIFA has sold general sale tickets for the revamped 32-team Club World Cup under a dynamic pricing model, a system whereby prices fluctuate based on demand, and the tumbling prices for certain games are indicative of FIFA's struggles to penetrate the market. As of Tuesday night, Inter Miami's game against Al-Ahly had dropped to only $55, according to prices on Ticketmaster, the portal FIFA are using to sell tickets for the tournament. This is half of what they were available for in May, while tickets were $230 for the cheapest seat in January and $349 after the draw in December. FIFA is now hoping that the reduced prices draw people in during a publicity blitz in the final week before the tournament. Additionally, some sources have questioned whether it may have been wiser to take Inter Miami out of their home market where their star names would be more of a novelty, particularly if attempting to sell games at higher prices than Inter Miami home fans usually pay at a different venue to their normal home field at Chase Stadium. Others counter that FIFA were reasonable to hope that Inter Miami fans would rally behind their team in a home market. FIFA is holding prices at a higher price point for later in the group stage in the hope that interest picks up in the tournament as it progresses. For example, Inter Miami's third and final game of the group phase against the Brazilian side Palmeiras has tickets starting at $113. However, their second game of the group against Portuguese team Porto in Atlanta has tickets available for $58, in a game that kicks off at 3pm ET on the afternoon of Thursday, June 19. Advertisement The highest selling group games in the tournament so far involve Real Madrid, with no tickets available for less than the $132 lowest entry for the Spanish club's game against Mexican side Pachuca (in Charlotte) while prices start at $310 against Saudi Arabian team Al Hilal (in Miami) and $253 against the Austrian team RB Salzburg (in Philadelphia). These prices appear to have increased since Madrid confirmed the involvement of new coach Xabi Alonso and summer signing Trent Alexander-Arnold in the tournament. The match involving Argentine team Boca Juniors against Bayern Munich is also trending particularly well, boosted by the substantial Argentine population in Miami, with the cheapest seat currently showing at $136. FIFA said: 'It is accurate that matches involving Boca and Real have high demand from fans. But they are not the only clubs to feature in such a list and, in fact, the highest selling match features other clubs for this first-ever edition. The strong international appeal has seen supporters from more than 130 countries book their ticket to the competition. The top 10 countries per ticket sales are the United States, followed by club fans from Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Canada, Germany, Saudi Arabia, France, Japan and Spain.' Clubs competing in the tournament have a $1bn pot to fight for, with the winner in line to win as much as $125m. Other ticket prices elsewhere have dropped dramatically. The lowest-priced ticket appears to be the match between Argentine side River Plate and Japanese team Urawa Red Diamonds, which is selling for as low as $24 for the match at Lumen Field in Seattle at 3pm ET on June 17. Other games including new European champions Paris Saint-Germain against Brazilian side Botafogo are available for $33 at the 90,000-capacity Rose Bowl in Pasadena while there are also concerns for huge swathes of empty seats for games including Benfica vs. Auckland (in Orlando), Palmeiras vs. Al-Ahly (in New Jersey), Ulsan vs. Mamelodi Sundowns (in Orlando) and Mamelodi vs. Fluminense (in Miami), all of which are now selling for prices between $26 and $40. Advertisement Speaking in April, the FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who has been the biggest proponent of the tournament, insisted he was 'not worried at all about ticket sales.' He said: 'When I see some of the stadiums in the United States filling itself when some teams are coming to play some friendly games, exhibition games, then I'm not worried at all to fill a stadium when teams are coming to play a World Cup, to play for, you know, something, something real.' Inter Miami have been approached for comment.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Wirtz and Kerkez next? Why Liverpool are spending big
Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz are two of Liverpool's summer targets [Getty Images] It was an extremely quiet transfer window for Liverpool last summer, with Federico Chiesa the only immediate signing that was made. But despite the lack of additions, the Reds cruised to the Premier League title in Arne Slot's first season in charge. Advertisement This time, however, they are doing things differently. Liverpool have already brought in Netherlands international Jeremie Frimpong for £29.5m, are closing in on his Bayer Leverkusen team-mate Florian Wirtz for a fee in the region of a club record £109m and are in talks to sign Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez for between £45m and £50m. There's also likely to be further incomings and outgoings to come. Why are the champions opting to spend big? Liverpool won their 20th league title in 2024-25 [Getty Images] After seeing his side close out their title-winning campaign with a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace at Anfield, Slot reflected on the club's lack of transfer business last summer. Advertisement Chiesa arrived late in the window and while the Reds did also agree a deal to sign Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, he stayed with the Spanish side until this summer. "We did things differently," he said. "Apart from signing Federico Chiesa we didn't do a lot so that makes it maybe even more special." If the lack of transfer activity made for a "special" title win, why the change of tack? "It will be just as tough or even tougher next season because the clubs we've competed with this season have always in every window invested a lot of money and they will probably do so this summer as well," Slot added. Advertisement "We just want good players. Ideally you sign them as soon as you can but it is not always easy." The arrival of Wirtz would take Liverpool's spending to £138.5m already, with a mini-transfer window having opened earlier than usual because of the Club World Cup. "Liverpool have been outside of the top 10 spenders on player signings since 2019, but their model is a classic case of being smarter rather than bigger," says football finance expert Kieran Maguire. "They certainly have the capacity to spend £200m but whether that fits with their model is another matter." Advertisement This is also a first proper summer transfer window for sporting director Richard Hughes, who joined the Reds in March last year. At that time his immediate task was identifying and appointing Jurgen Klopp's successor but his full focus now, with more than a year to prepare, has been on player recruitment. What other positions will be strengthened? Milos Kerkez started all 38 of Bournemouth's Premier League games last season [Getty Images] Given how much the Reds have spent already, there is every chance they will spend the £200m Maguire mentions, with several positions still being targeted as areas to strengthen. Liverpool moved quickly to address the departure of full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold with the signing of Frimpong, who can play anywhere down the right-hand side. Advertisement Wirtz, meanwhile, is seen as a key acquisition for Slot, which is why Liverpool are prepared to pay a club-record transfer fee for him. Manchester City - Liverpool's likely main challengers for the title next season - had also been interested in the Germany international, having viewed him as a successor to Kevin de Bruyne. But Pep Guardiola's side were ultimately put off by the potential cost of the deal, leaving Liverpool to press on. Left-back is also an area Slot wants to strengthen with Milos Kerkez - who plays for Hughes' former club Bournemouth - a key target. No agreement has yet been reached between Liverpool and Bournemouth, but the Reds have stepped up their efforts to sign him over the last couple of days. Advertisement Hughes was Bournemouth's sporting director when Kerkez moved to the South Coast from AZ Alkmaar in 2023. The Hungary defender dropped a small hint over his future on Instagram recently, posting: "I don't know what will happen in the next week but Cherries family thank you!" Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy told BBC Sport: "Kerkez from Bournemouth is a really good option. He's quick, he's got good feet, likes defending one-on-one. He is very tenacious, great energy, and is only 21. "It fits the criteria of Liverpool's recruitment team measured by ability to progress and become more of an asset. I think that's quite likely to happen." Advertisement The left-back ranks second for most distanced covered of all Premier League full-backs this season (behind only Fulham's Antonee Robinson) and third for most sprints. He has made the third-most open play crosses in the Premier League and has eight goal involvements this campaign (two goals and six assists). His arrival would raise questions about the future of Andy Robertson and Konstantinos Tsimikas, with the Reds unlikely to need all three left-backs next season. Tsimikas would be the expected departure but, with Champions League interest in Robertson, his exit instead is a possibility. Liverpool were also one of a number of Premier League clubs interested in Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen before his move to Real Madrid was confirmed, so a centre-back may also be on the radar, particularly as Ibrahima Konate is into the final year of his contract with no news on a new agreement. Advertisement A new striker could also be pursued, although that will likely be dependent on outgoings in that position. On that matter... Who could depart in summer of change? Darwin Nunez (5) and Luis Diaz (13) scored 18 Premier League goals between them last season [Getty Images] Slot could be tempted to refresh his attack and both Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez have been linked with moves away. Diaz joined the Reds in 2022 but enjoyed his best goalscoring form under Slot with 17 in all competitions including 13 in the Premier League. However, potential summer moves to either Barcelona or Saudi Arabia have been touted, and speculation over his future has only increased after Diaz and his girlfriend both wrote lengthy posts on social media to Liverpool fans that could be interpreted as farewell messages. Advertisement Meanwhile, Nunez has struggled to start regularly under Slot, who has also made public criticisms of his attitude. He has had three full seasons at Liverpool since completing a move worth up to £85m from Benfica - and while his effort is praised by Liverpool fans, he has struggled to score consistently. "It's time for a freshen up in attack," added Murphy. "I think Darwin has had a lot of chances. If you just simplify it to what we've seen in terms of his contribution and minutes played, Slot obviously doesn't fancy him. "Slot has played a winger, Luis Diaz, ahead of him as a striker at times. That tells you everything you need to know. Advertisement "I would be amazed if Darwin stayed. I think the writing is on the wall for him." Another player whose future is unclear is Harvey Elliott. The midfielder made 18 Premier League appearances for the Reds last season but started just two games and recently suggested his future is uncertain by saying "you never know what's going to happen". Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has already departed the Reds to join Brentford, and a busy summer of incomings and outgoings is set to continue for a while longer yet.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Donald Trump will be ‘positive force' for US World Cup, says sports tycoon
US sports billionaire Arthur Blank has said he hopes that geopolitical tensions will 'settle down' before next year's football World Cup,
