U.S. men’s national team star Christian Pulisic stated that he wanted to participate in the team’s friendlies against Turkiye and Switzerland this month, but he was not allowed by Mauricio Pochettino and his coaching staff, who opted for continuity ahead of the Concacaf Gold Cup.

Pulisic discussed his choice to skip the Gold Cup in an interview on CBS Sports’ Call It What You Want on June 12, 2025. He explained his absence follows two tiring seasons playing for AC Milan and the national team. His omission from the roster raised eyebrows, particularly after it drew criticism from former USMNT star Landon Donovan.

“The only point that I would make with that is that I did want to be a part of, at least, the two friendlies,” Pulisic explained. “I did speak with the coaches, and I asked, and I wanted to be a part of the team in whatever capacity I could, and they said no. They said they only wanted one roster, and that’s the coach’s decision.”

This month’s friendlies, which both resulted in defeats, preceded the Gold Cup, which kicks off for the USMNT on Sunday against Trinidad and Tobago. Although Pochettino named a larger group of players for a training camp prior to finalizing the squad for the tournament, he aimed to work exclusively with the selected youthful lineup during the friendlies.

Pulisic also elaborated on his rationale behind opting out of the Gold Cup, emphasizing considerations for the upcoming 2026 World Cup. He expressed regret at missing team activities but stressed the need to prioritize his well-being.

“It sucks for me to miss out with the team,” he acknowledged. “I want to be a part of the team always, but I had to make the best decision for myself and my teammates for the future.”