Pulisic leads list of US absentees for Gold Cup
May 22 (Reuters) - AC Milan's Christian Pulisic will miss next month's CONCACAF Gold Cup, leading a group of notable absentees from Mauricio Pochettino's 27-man U.S. squad announced on Thursday.
Pulisic plans to take a break following a demanding season with his Serie A club, where he featured in 49 matches across all competitions, tallying up 17 goals and 12 assists, while dealing with some minor injuries.
"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," U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker said in a statement.
"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."
Fellow Milan midfielder Yunus Musah and Fulham defender Antonee Robinson were also left out of the squad, while Juventus pair Weston McKennie and Tim Weah, along with Borussia Dortmund's Gio Reyna, will be unavailable due to their clubs' participation in the Club World Cup in the U.S. which starts on June 15.
Defenders Alex Freeman and Quinn Sullivan, midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and forward Damion Down have all received their first senior call-ups.
"As we continue preparations for the World Cup, this is a fantastic opportunity to work with this group of players for an extended period and it's important we take advantage of every moment," Argentine manager Pochettino said.
"Of course, we want to win and to perform in a very good way. These players have earned the chance to compete for our fans and to show their quality and mentality."
The U.S. host Turkey on June 7 before facing Switzerland three days later, with both friendlies serving as warm-ups ahead of the Gold Cup which runs from June 14 to July 6 in the U.S. and Canada.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
37 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Tennis icon is completely unrecognizable as he's spotted for first time in months... as insider reveals why he gave up on fame
A tennis legend appeared unrecognizable while stepping out in Beverly Hills this week as an inside source revealed he enjoys the 'anonymity he is blessed with.' The 53-year-old former professional used to take center stage on court, amassing a staggering 14 Grand Slam titles throughout a decorated 15-year career. Yet, in the two decades since putting his racket down, fans have only caught fleeting glimpses of Pete Sampras - including this week. In exclusive Daily Mail photos, the American was captured making a rare public appearance on Tuesday when he was seen on a coffee run in the iconic Los Angeles neighborhood, proving tough to recognize. Plainly dressed in loose-fitting grey workout clothes and green Nike sneakers, Sampras was pictured clutching a Starbucks drinks carrier containing two iced coffees and a hot beverage as he kept his head down. The public sighting, which came amid the French Open - one of tennis's four Grand Slam and the only one to elude Sampras - is just the second in seven months after he was spotted carrying out a similar errand in Beverly Hills back in December. The tennis legend cut a casual figure as he carried out a coffee run in the LA neighborhood But the balding former athlete already looked strikingly different, as he debuted a new salt-and-pepper beard and fuller sideburns. The rare sightings aren't unusual for Sampras as an inside source revealed to the Daily Mail that the 'homebody' has actively shielded himself from the lifestyle of the rich and the famous since officially retiring from tennis in 2003. 'Pete has always shied away from taking on all the benefits of being a celebrity as he has always considered himself a tennis player and a regular dude,' the insider said. 'He loves being a homebody and only selectively is he seen when he goes out, and he loves it. He loves being able to visit his sisters and brother who he is very close with and just more about being a husband and a father and just taking things day by day. 'Through tennis, Pete learned that you have to be your own person to succeed, and that is how he treats life, being his own person and allowing only a few people to surround him in his everyday life. It is what has worked for him for decades and he isn't looking to change anytime soon. He enjoys the more than expected anonymity he is blessed with.' Aside from his photographed routine coffee runs, Sampras has only stepped back into the public eye on limited occasions. He made an appearance at Indian Wells in 2019, and at a Nike event four years prior, with the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova all present. Sampras is notoriously private and undertakes very little TV work - usually opting to stay out of the spotlight and keep his personal life to himself. The five-time US Open Champions has endured a past couple of years as he revealed in October 2023 that his wife was battling ovarian cancer. In a statement to the ATP Tour, the American legend said: 'As most have come to know, I am a pretty quiet and private person. However, this past year has been an exceptionally challenging time for my family, and I have decided to share what's been going on. 'Last December, my wife, Bridgette, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Since then, she has had major surgery, pushed through chemotherapy and continues with targeted maintenance therapy. 'It is hard to watch someone you love go through a challenge like this. However, seeing our boys step up and be such strong supporters of Bridgette, myself and each other has been amazing.' He and Bridgette have two children from their 25-year marriage - Ryan and Christian - and the family still reside in California. Bridgette, a former Miss Teen USA, is an actress and singer who starred in the likes of the 1997 slasher 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' and also had a role in 'The Wedding Planner' alongside Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey. Even at the height of his playing powers, Sampras was known to be notoriously private and fame-averse. After winning the 2002 US Open (the last tournament of his career), he flew home to California and declined all media requests. He has been said to have loathed press conferences and promotional appearances and even in retirement would rarely leave his Beverly Hills mansion. In contrast, Sampras's greatest rival Andre Agassi became tabloid fodder due to his relationship with actress Brooke Shields and high-profile alleged affair with Barbra Streisand. Meanwhile, a trio of players whose careers Sampras overlapped with - John McEnroe, his brother Patrick McEnroe and Jim Courier - have all gone on to be respected analysts on TV. During his career, Sampras was the best player in the world and has two Australian Open titles, five US Opens, and an incredible seven Wimbledon wins. He has 64 career singles titles in total - the ninth best in the Open Era - and earned himself over $43million in prize money throughout his career. He retired officially in the summer of 2003, going on to periodically appear in exhibition matches in the years that followed. After the birth of their second son in 2005, both Sampras and his wife Bridgette both stepped away from the limelight to focus on family life.
Daily Mail
37 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Revealed: The two quarterbacks Pittsburgh Steelers failed to sign before turning to Aaron Rodgers
The Pittsburgh Steelers tried to retain Justin Fields and court Matthew Stafford to the East Coast before committing to Aaron Rodgers as the team's next starting quarterback. Rodgers being the Steelers third choice for 2025 was revealed after the 41-year-old ended his months-long NFL exile and signed with Pittsburgh last week. Fields opted to take Rodgers' old spot and start for the New York Jets under new head coach Aaron Glenn. Stafford appeared briefly on the trade block before the Los Angeles Rams made sure he wanted to stay in Hollywood. The Steelers' process to land on Rodgers had the four-time MVP as their primary target was in place for months, as the other duo committed away from the Steel City in March, per ESPN. Rodgers only signed a 1-year contract with the team, due to his age, meaning the long-term answer at quarterback for Pittsburgh is likely still not on the team's roster. For this year, the Rodgers' show comes to Pittsburgh, with plenty of competition from the rest of the AFC. Rodgers is likely inserted as the Steelers No 1 quarterback for the season, with any talk of a competition with Mason Rudolph or Will Howard holding zero weight, as neither have had NFL success. Last month, the momentum behind Rudolph being the starter as at an all-time high after he appeared at a rally for President Donald Trump. Rudolph, alongside safety Miles Killebrew, and four-time Super Bowl champion Rocky Bleier, gave Trump a personalized Steelers jersey. Trump also gave his two cents on Pittsburgh's quarterback situation, endorsing Rudolph. 'I happen to think a really good quarterback is a man named Mason Rudolph,' Trump said. 'I think he's gonna get a big shot. He's tall, he's handsome, he's got a great arm. And I have a feeling he's gonna be the guy.'
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Tyrese Haliburton's girlfriend caught in heated exchange with rival fans during NBA Finals Game 2 defeat
Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton's girlfriend was caught clashing with rival fans during Game 2 of the NBA Finals Sunday night. Jade Jones, the guard's longtime girlfriend, made the trip to Paycom Center in Oklahoma City to support her NBA beau. But, after having taken the series lead in the opening clash, Haliburton and the Pacers suffered a 123-107 blowout loss in Game 2 as the Oklahoma City Thunder tied the series up. And the frustration appeared to boil over for Jones as she watched her boyfriend, who managed 17 points, slip to defeat from the stands. With Pacers down double digits at the time, Jones, who has dated the NBA star for six years, was captured in a heated exchange with a set of home fans. As the cameras panned across the sea of Thunder blue, Jones was seen on her feet wildly gesturing to someone in the crowd. Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton's girlfriend was caught clashing with rival fans While it is unclear what was said, the moment was visibly tense as Jones, a former Iowa State cheerleader, repeatedly jabbed her finger towards someone sat off camera and appeared to shout in their direction. Haliburton and Jones, who have dated since their college days at Iowa State, celebrated six years together in April. '6 whole years of loving you,' Jones began an Instagram caption. 'Every single day you continue to amaze me!! 'You make this world shine so incredibly bright and I'm so lucky to spend life by your side. You are so special to me, our love is one in a million- My best friend forever & ever!! I love you.' The Pacers were dealt a blow Sunday, getting steamrolled by the Thunder as they filed to sweep Games 1 and 2 in a series for the first time this postseason. The Pacers' bid to become the fifth team in NBA history to go 8-0 to open the four playoff rounds was stopped on Sunday night by the Oklahoma City Thunder. 'Any time you´re the lower seed in a playoff series, you know your job is to go split or go try to get one on the road,' Haliburton said. 'We got Game 1, you know, but it felt like we really let the rope slip there in the second quarter.' The couple met and began dating during their college days at Iowa State They recently celebrated six years together with Jones sharing a touching message A 19-2 run in that second quarter put the Thunder in control - and the final margin was 16. The Pacers were trying to join the 1986 Boston Celtics, 1987 Los Angeles Lakers, 1996 Chicago Bulls and 2017 Golden State Warriors as teams that won Games 1 and 2 in all four rounds of a single postseason. All four went on to win the NBA title. Those teams all did it with home-court advantage in every one of those series. The Pacers haven´t had home court since Round 1 - taking the first two of that series against Milwaukee, then winning the first two of Round 2 at Cleveland, the first two of the Eastern Conference final at New York, and Game 1 of the finals in Oklahoma City.
