USMNT Names 26-Player 2025 Gold Cup Roster Amid Key Star Absences

The U.S. Men's National Team has named a 26-player roster for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup that notably lacks many key stars due to injuries, personal reasons, and club commitments. Sergiño Dest was excluded from the squad because of fitness concerns following his recovery from an ACL injury, with coach Mauricio Pochettino opting to have him focus on full recovery for the next season. Other prominent absences include Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Folarin Balogun, Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Gio Reyna, with several missing due to their clubs' participation in the FIFA Club World Cup or opting out for rest. The roster relies heavily on veterans like goalkeeper Matt Turner, defenders Tim Ream and Walker Zimmerman, and midfielder Tyler Adams, alongside several new call-ups and MLS players. The team aims to rebound from recent disappointing performances in the Copa America and CONCACAF Nations League by showing the right mentality and seizing the opportunity presented by the Gold Cup. However, questions remain about the priority given to the tournament given the number of absences and the youthful makeup of the squad.