AC Milan forward Christian Pulisic is one of five players who will not participate in the United States men’s national team’s upcoming friendly against Mexico, as announced by US Soccer on Sunday. Pulisic, who played a crucial role in setting up the first goal during the USA’s 2-0 win over Panama in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, has been released to return to his club. The match marked a successful debut for the US’s new head coach, Mauricio Pochettino.
The 26-year-old winger has logged significant minutes recently, both for AC Milan and the US national team, prompting his release ahead of Tuesday’s high-profile clash with Mexico in Guadalajara. Alongside Pulisic, Marlon Fossey, Weston McKennie, Ricardo Pepi, and Zack Steffen are also returning to their respective clubs due to minor injuries and will be assessed further.
Pochettino emphasized that the decision to release these players is in line with their commitment to prioritizing the well-being of the athletes and maintaining a strong relationship with their clubs. He added that no additional players will be called up to replace those leaving the squad.
The United States will face long-time rivals Mexico on Tuesday without these key contributors, but the team remains focused on delivering a strong performance under their new head coach.
