Gold Cup Final: Why Is Christian Pulisic Not Playing For the USMNT Vs. Mexico?
As the USMNT will play Mexico in the 2025 Gold Cup final, one name is noticeably missing from the squad sheet: Christian Pulisic. The team's longtime captain and attacking engine is not only absent from the starting XI — he hasn't featured in the tournament at all.
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Pulisic's absence has fueled plenty of discussion online, especially given the rise of young stars like Diego Luna - who's wearing the number 10 in Pulisic's absence.
While the U.S. has performed well without him, maintaining the unbeaten status through the group phase and playoffs, many fans expected Pulisic to be present for a title-deciding match against their biggest rival.
Pulisic voluntarily opted out of the tournament — he wasn't injured or overlooked by the coaching staff. According to U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker, it was a joint decision driven by workload concerns after a grueling club season.
'Christian and his team approached the Federation … given the amount of matches he has played in the past two years with very little break … we made the collective decision that this is the right moment for him to get the rest he needs.' - Cooker explained.
Pulisic played 49 matches for AC Milan this season and also dealt with a chronic hip-flexor issue. The decision was made to ensure he's fully refreshed ahead of the World Cup qualifiers and the 2026 tournament.
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Pulisic has also addressed public criticism, calling some of it 'way out of line.' He noted that he actually requested to play in the pre-Gold Cup friendlies, but head coach Mauricio Pochettino preferred to keep the same group that would feature in the tournament.
Pochettino later reinforced that players 'can't dictate the plan' and that roster management decisions are based on the full season and long-term goals.
Sergiño Dest is also out of the tournament
Sergiño Dest was expected to be a key figure for the U.S. Men's National Team heading into the 2025 Gold Cup—only for his name to be left off the final 26-man roster.
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Dest had only recently returned to action in March after recovering from an ACL injury he suffered in April 2024. He managed seven appearances for PSV leading up to the tournament, but none of them were full 90-minute performances.
According to USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino, the decision to leave Dest off the Gold Cup roster was made after consultation with the team's medical and performance staff.
'The technical, medical and high performance staffs … determined the best decision is for [Dest] to have an individualized training program for the summer so he can focus on being fully recovered and ready to perform next season.' - Pochettino explained.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
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