GOAL US writers debate Mauricio Pochettino's roster selection, Pulisic's decision and what it means for the Gold Cup
It's time for everyone to care about the USMNT again. There are some (semi) competitive games coming up, and plenty of talking points as a result. The Gold Cup may or may not matter, but it will still offer a trophy to play for – and a roster dilemma for the USMNT.
Not-really-new-anymore manager Mauricio Pochettino has released his roster, and there are a few surprises. The headline is that Christian Pulisic opted to sit out the Gold Cup after setting a new career high in minutes for Milan. Is that the right call for a player who consistently battles injury issues, or does it send the wrong message to the program?
There are other big names missing due to the Club World Cup, with the likes of Gio Reyna, Weston Mckennie and Tim Weah all out of this USMNT squad. Antonee Robinson and Yunas Musah are also absent, as is striker Josh Sargent – the latter by coach's decision. Meanwhile, Pochettino has picked a strong MLS contingent, with 17 players from North America's top flight making the roster.
That will certainly be an interesting case study in just how good the league has become. So what to make of it all? Can the USMNT win this thing without some of their big names?
GOAL US writers break it all down in the latest edition of… The Rondo.
Getty Images SportDid Pulisic make the right call to skip the Gold Cup?
Tom Hindle: Yes. Certainly. Undoubtedly. Indisputably. 10000 percent. His legs don't work as is, and there is absolutely zero reason for him to play in a tournament that does not matter. Think of it this way: if he did play and tore an ACL, people would be fuming. He needs a summer off, and both he and the USMNT will be better off because of it. Care that much about 2026? You'll allow your star player to get some rest.
Jacob Schneider: Coming off a Nations League failure, this group needs to come together and show the fans and the country they have what it takes to compete in the World Cup. Pulisic opting to not be a part of that group is disappointing. He’s a focal point of everything with the team, and he knows, of all people, what failure with the group does to the program (Just go back to Trinidad). However, there’s also the fact that he has played a lot of minutes, and his legs and body are probably exhausted – and he is deserving of a break. It’s just not the time for it. He sets the tone for this team. This wasn’t it.
Alex Labidou: The reasons are understandable, but if Pulisic is genuine in his goal of winning the World Cup – something he's stated multiple times – this decision appears counterintuitive. It might seem as if Pochettino is part of the U.S. Soccer furniture, but in reality, he's been on the job since September and has coached eight games since his arrival. Not to mention, Pulisic missed at least one game due to rest during the manager's first pair of games. If Pulisic really wants to win and show accountability – something he's asked of his teammates – then this summer was the perfect opportunity to do so.
Yes, Reyna, Weah, and McKennie are out due to the Club World Cup. But what about seeing an attack with Folarin Balogun, Malik Tillman, and others? Don't you think Brenden Aaronson, Tillman, Tyler Adams, and Chris Richards also want a break after a long season? Chemistry is paramount to World Cup winners – just look at the past few teams that have won. Most have had stable cores that have played at least a dozen matches together. It is improbable that the U.S. will contend in 2026, but the reason why U.S. Soccer hired Pochettino was to bring the program to new levels. Between an abysmal Nations League showing and this Gold Cup roster news, the opportunity to something to reach those expectations seems less likely.
Ryan Tolmich: Is it best for Pulisic? Probably. Is it best for the USMNT? Probably not! At a time in which this team is struggling with optics, it’s not a good look for the team’s best player to pull out of a tournament, banged up or not. Winning cures all, and if the USMNT do that this summer, everyone will be breathing easy. If things go wrong, though, Pulisic and the USMNT will have to navigate an even thicker layer of criticism.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWho was the biggest roster omission?
TH: Is it fair to say Alejandro Zendejas, even if there's some uncertainty around his availability due to the weird Club World Cup play-in thing? He's been quality in Liga MX this year, and if Pochettino is going to say all of the right things about MLS, there's no reason he shouldn't do the same with the Mexican league. Other than that, it might be decent to see Caleb Wiley get a look, as the U.S. doesn't really have any cover for Antonee Robinson, who's started to pick up a few knocks this year.
JS: It’s gotta be Wiley or Paxten Aaronson. No Robinson meant this could have been Wiley’s camp to take the No. 2 LB spot. Baffling he’s not there. Then, for Aaronson, he had a breakout year in the Netherlands, he led Utrecht to a European spot and was named to their EA FC team of the season for his performances even. Bummer for him.
AL: Does Pochettino not watch Liga MX? One would have to wonder as his refusal to bring in Zendejas, especially with Weah and Pulisic out, is borderline malpractice. The Club America winger is the best player on a team that is on the verge of winning Liga MX for the fourth consecutive time, and has five goals and six assists in 14 games. Unless there are dressing room concerns – or maybe there is an eye ahead to the Club World Cup playoff match between LAFC and Club America – this is clearly not a footballing decision. Zendejas deserves to be there. As for Sargent, he was given plenty of opportunities over the past six months to prove himself, with at least two starts and he failed to impress. It doesn't devalue what he did on the club level, but in order to get back he needs to prove his scoring prowess on a higher level.
RT: Both Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty will feel hard done, especially given the success they’ve had with Celtic. Both will believe they’re in the centerback race and both have now missed out on a massive opportunity to prove that fact. Hope isn’t entirely lost, but the two Celtic stars could have used a big summer, either individually or as a USMNT unit.
Getty Images SportDoes this change expectations for the U.S. in the Gold Cup?
TH: Don't care. It doesn't matter. But Mexico and Canada might be better. Get to the semis and hope the world doesn't explode when you crash out heroically, because 2026 is the goal. Get out without injuries and your pride (relatively) intact and it's job done.
JS: It's always been final or bust. You can’t be this program and not compete for it. That hasn't changed.
AL: Mexico are the favorites, but the U.S. can't go into this tournament expecting anything less than a final appearance. There is enough talent on this roster that the Americans should be considered the second-best in the Gold Cup. Anything less than an appearance in the final will raise questions on whether or not Pochettino is the right fit for this job.
RT: Is this USMNT group the most talented in the tournament? Probably not, as things stand. Mexico and Canada will believe in their chances. Panama will, too, given March’s result. Realistically, a good USMNT Gold Cup is now a run to the final with three or four fringe players cementing themselves as something reliable for the future.
AFPWhat position is up for grabs in this camp?
TH: Do we have to talk about No. 9s again? Balogun has to be the first choice dude when he's fit, so it'll be good to see him get some reps. Outside of that, not really sure. Suspect Pochettino knows mostly what his strongest XI is already – with perhaps a suggestion that Johnny Cardoso should be in the mix ahead of Musah. Since something needs saying, let's highlight center-back. Richards should be there, but who partners him? Tough to say – and this window might give you an idea or two
JS: Depending on Balogun's injury status, it’s striker. Brian White and Pat Agyemang will push him for it.
AL: Striker and goalkeeper. Balogun should be the favorite, and on paper, is arguably the best attacker with Pulisic off the squad. Yet, he hasn't looked sharp since his return from his injury. At goalkeeper, the hope would be this is an actual competition as opposed to resume browsing. Matt Turner has been OK at best, but appears as if he's given the No. 1 job because he's on a Premier League roster – whether or not he plays. It would be great to see if Zack Steffen or Patrick Schulte are given a real shot to compete for the No. 1 job. There are very few chances to evaluate after this tournament.
RT: It’s got to be goalkeeper, right? That’s largely because it’s one of the few positions fully-equipped with the those competing for the starting job. Turner probably has the upper hand, but the three others in camp all have realistic hopes of leapfrogging him in the coming weeks. Pochettino’s selections during the tournament will give a pretty good indication of how he feels about this group going forward.
