Overview

• Christian Pulisic requested to skip the summer Gold Cup to rest after consecutive 50-match seasons, a move confirmed by U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker.
• On June 8, Landon Donovan, commentating on the UEFA Nations League final for Fox Sports, likened USMNT players skipping the tournament to being “on vacation,” a clear jab at Pulisic.
• Mark Pulisic fired back on Instagram with a ChatGPT-generated summary of Donovan’s own 2012-13 sabbatical, calling the soccer legend a hypocrite.
• Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams publicly defended Pulisic’s decision, warning that playing below full fitness risks injury and undermines team performance.
• Analysts and former players have criticized the public spat as a distraction that underscores broader USMNT challenges with fatigue, cohesion and focus ahead of World Cup 2026.