USMNT Names Gold Cup Training Squad Excluding Key Stars Pulisic, McKennie, Reyna

The U.S. men's national soccer team will enter the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup without several key players, including star forward Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna, Antonee Robinson, and Tim Weah. The absences of McKennie, Reyna, and Weah are due to their clubs' participation in the FIFA Club World Cup, which overlaps with the Gold Cup and has been given priority over national team duties by FIFA. Pulisic is taking an extended break to recover from heavy playing time over the past two seasons and minor injuries, while Robinson has been managing tendinopathy. In their stead, head coach Mauricio Pochettino has called up a mix of newcomers and less-experienced players, including five uncapped players, to evaluate the wider player pool ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The Gold Cup will also mark the return of Sergiño Dest after injury. The USMNT is seeking a strong performance at the Gold Cup as a key step in preparations for next year's World Cup co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, amid a sense of urgency following disappointing recent results.