Christian Pulisic is not on the U.S. national team’s 28-man squad for their first camp since the World Cup. Coach Mauricio Pochettino isn’t giving Pulisic a special explanation, which is honestly the loudest message he could send to the face of American soccer. It’s a complete shift, especially after Pulisic has only managed to play a measly 90 minutes across two AC Milan matches since getting back from those summer injuries.
Pochettino Just Blew Up The “Sacred Cow” Idea
Pochettino didn’t mince words, even if he did it by refusing to speak specifically about Pulisic. When asked why certain players weren’t selected for the 16-day camp and its four friendlies, he basically shrugged, saying if he explained every decision, “maybe we spend one hour here.” He then added, “Why not maybe 100 players that are not in the squad and why not another 28? We work to try to call the players we believe are the best for this roster.” That’s a reasonable response for most players, sure, but Pulisic isn’t “most players.” He was the heart of the World Cup squad, the guy we all looked to. By lumping him in with everyone else, Pochettino made it crystal clear: this is a “fresh start.” He repeated that phrase several times, emphasizing a “completely different approach than was in the past,” pointing out he had 18 months before the last World Cup, but now has four years ahead. “The World Cup is in four years. We need to work with different objectives and goals, and for different reasons, the roster is the roster that is the best roster we can design for this camp.” That means no guaranteed spots, no “sacred cows.” All that celebrated overseas career, the Champions League medal, his 90 caps and 23 goals for the U.S.? According to Pochettino, “none of that matters now.” He even took a serious dig at Pulisic skipping the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup to prep for 2026, dropping a blunt, “You know now that is bulls***, no?” Wow.
The Hard Road Back For Captain America
So, what’s Pulisic got to do to get back into the mix for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals in November? He’s gotta earn it. That means showing he’s back in top form at AC Milan, where playing time is definitely not a given. Especially after his unproductive form in the latter half of the 2025-26 Serie A campaign and those World Cup injury recovery woes. We all know that when Pulisic is on his game, nobody in American soccer touches him. But let’s be real, he wasn’t exactly flying high during the World Cup, even with the injuries. If he’s not playing regularly and performing for Milan, he’s not getting back to that ultimate level. Meanwhile, Pochettino isn’t waiting around. He’s trying out fresh, young talent on the flanks, like Mathis Albert from Borussia Dortmund, Zavier Gozo from Crystal Palace, and Cole Campbell from Elversberg. These new faces are getting their shot in the upcoming friendlies against Peru on September 26, Chile on September 29, Mexico on October 3, and Canada on October 6. Pochettino summed it up for these newcomers, saying, “If these guys are here and perform in the way we expect, they are going to have the opportunity maybe to keep playing.” The message is loud and clear for everyone. Pulisic included.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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