Overview

• Christian Pulisic asked to feature in pre-Gold Cup friendlies but skip the tournament to rest after roughly 120 matches in two years.
• Coach Mauricio Pochettino rejected the request to maintain a single camp roster, insisting that players stick to his plan and performance must earn selection.
• Those friendlies ended in defeats to Turkey (2–1) and Switzerland (4–0), extending the USMNT’s losing streak to four games for the first time since 2007.
• Pochettino downplayed star status, saying no player dictates team decisions and that selection hinges on on-field performance rather than reputation.
• The United States will face Trinidad and Tobago in its Gold Cup opener with a squad focused on unity and a potential return for midfielder Tyler Adams.