Christian Pulisic, the AC Milan and United States forward, won’t be participating in the upcoming Gold Cup, as confirmed by sources to ESPN. Pulisic’s absence is due to the need for a recovery period after a demanding season in Europe. If he features in Milan’s final match against Monza this weekend, it will mark his 50th appearance in all competitions for the club this season. Sources revealed that Pulisic had been struggling with a persistent hip flexor problem as recently as March, but it remains uncertain if this is the reason for his withdrawal from the Gold Cup.
The US Men’s National Team (USMNT) is aiming to bounce back from a disappointing performance in the Concacaf Nations League, where they suffered defeats to Panama and Canada. Alongside Pulisic, the team will also be without key players such as Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah from Juventus, as well as Gio Reyna from Borussia Dortmund, all of whom are set to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup. Furthermore, Johnny Cardoso may also be unavailable if his rumored transfer to Atlético Madrid materializes. The Gold Cup group stage for the USMNT kicks off on June 15 against Trinidad and Tobago, followed by matches against Saudi Arabia on June 19 and Haiti three days later. Fox Sports was the first to report Pulisic’s unavailability for the tournament.
Not really sure why this matters, but it seems like Pulisic’s absence could be a blow to the USMNT’s chances at the Gold Cup. With other key players also missing, the team will have to rely on their depth to make an impact in the tournament. Maybe it’s just me, but it feels like Pulisic’s recovery should be the top priority to ensure he is ready for the upcoming season. With the FIFA Club World Cup on the horizon for some players, it will be interesting to see how the USMNT performs without some of their star talents.
