Pulisic Defends Gold Cup Absence Amid Criticism

Christian Pulisic has defended his decision to skip the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup, citing the need for rest after a challenging season with AC Milan and prioritizing his health ahead of the 2026 World Cup. He criticized former USMNT stars such as Landon Donovan and Tim Howard for publicly questioning his commitment while privately expressing support. Pulisic stated he requested to play in recent friendlies against Turkey and Switzerland but was not selected by coach Mauricio Pochettino, who chose to use a single roster for all summer matches. He emphasized the decision was made with the coaching staff for the long-term benefit of both himself and the team. The absence of Pulisic and other regulars like Yunus Musah and Antonee Robinson has coincided with a four-game USMNT losing streak. Despite the controversy, Pulisic says he is 'hungrier than ever' to return and contribute.