"You know now that is bulls***, no?" That was Pochettino's verdict last week on Pulisic skipping the 2025 Gold Cup. Now the USMNT's most recognizable player isn't in the 28-man squad for September's camp. The message is pretty hard to misread.
When asked why Pulisic was left out, Pochettino gave a stock answer he'd use for any uncapped fringe player — essentially, explaining every omission would take an hour, so he'd rather talk about who is in. Reasonable for most absences. Christian Pulisic is not most absences. He has 90 caps, 23 international goals, a Champions League medal, and was the face of a home World Cup. Lumping him in with the general pool is a deliberate choice, not an oversight.
"Fresh start," Pochettino said. Repeatedly.
What Pulisic Has to Do to Get Back In
The path is simple, if not easy: play at AC Milan. Since returning from summer injuries, Pulisic has logged just 90 minutes across two Serie A appearances. That's not a form issue yet — it's a fitness issue — but Pochettino isn't running a rehabilitation programme. The November CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals are the next realistic target for Pulisic's return, and he'll need consistent minutes at Milan between now and then to earn a spot back.
It's also worth understanding the club context. Milan is competitive, Pulisic's second half of last season was unproductive by his own standards, and the World Cup injuries haven't helped his standing. There's no guarantee of a starting role, let alone the kind of form that makes him undroppable internationally. Any side betting on the USMNT to perform in November should factor in that their most dangerous wide player is currently a question mark, not a certainty.
Meanwhile, Pochettino is using the four-match September window — a new expanded FIFA schedule that gives him 16 days across games against Peru, Chile, Mexico, and Canada — to stress-test youth on the flanks. Mathis Albert (Borussia Dortmund), Zavier Gozo (Crystal Palace), and Cole Campbell (Elversberg) are among the newcomers getting looks in positions Pulisic typically owns.
Cavan Sullivan, Musah's Return, and the Bigger Picture
The most interesting name going the other direction is Cavan Sullivan. The Philadelphia Union midfielder turns 17 later this month and is already drawing a call-up to the senior squad. Pochettino was notably more animated about Sullivan than he was about veterans: "He is special." That's a word he didn't use for anyone else on the call.
Yunus Musah is also back after missing the 2026 World Cup entirely — his loan to Atalanta was a disaster, but he's now playing at Milan again and that was enough for Pochettino to reopen the door. Interestingly, players like Johnny Cardoso (Atlético Madrid), Tanner Tessmann (Lyon), and Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) — all playing regularly in Europe, all World Cup non-selections — did not get the same opportunity this window. The criteria aren't always visible from the outside.
The broader structure matters too. Pochettino has been tasked with feeding talent into the 2028 LA Olympics squad — coached by Steve Cherundolo — while building toward 2030. Much of this current roster is Olympic-eligible, so these friendlies serve a dual purpose. More development time, more data, less pressure to default to familiar names.
- Peru — September 26, Orlando
- Chile — September 29, St. Louis
- Mexico — October 3, Greater Phoenix
- Canada — October 6, St. Paul, Minnesota
"Football is about today. Soccer is about today." Pochettino said it, and then he proved it — by leaving his most famous player at home.
