Pulisic Returns to USMNT for September Matches

Christian Pulisic, a key player for the U.S. national team, is set to rejoin the squad for friendlies against South Korea and Japan next month. This comes after he sat out June’s matches and the CONCACAF Gold Cup to take a break, a decision that reportedly caused friction with coach Mauricio Pochettino.

Pulisic had offered to play in friendlies prior to the Gold Cup, but not in the tournament itself, an offer that Pochettino declined.

Having played around 100 club matches over two seasons with AC Milan, the 26-year-old felt he needed a substantial summer break before the U.S. hosts the World Cup next year. This decision drew criticism from some former U.S. national team players.

He’s among the 22 players named on Tuesday for the upcoming games. The U.S. will play South Korea on September 6 in Harrison, New Jersey, and Japan three days later in Columbus, Ohio. An additional player will be added to the roster, according to the U.S. Soccer Federation.

Defender Sergino Dest could make his first national team appearance in 18 months, following recovery from an ACL tear sustained on April 20, 2024. Winger Tim Weah is also back after missing the Gold Cup due to FIFA’s prioritization of the Club World Cup.

Forwards Josh Sargent and Alejandro Zendejas are back in the squad after being omitted from the Gold Cup roster. Sargent has been in good form, scoring in Norwich’s first four games.

Goalkeepers Jonathan Klinsmann and Roman Celentano are among four players who could potentially debut for the national team, alongside defenders Noahkai Banks and Tristan Blackmon. Jonathan Klinsmann is the son of former coach Jurgen Klinsmann. Midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, son of ex-coach Gregg Berhalter, is also on the roster.

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Blackmon, a 29-year-old defender playing for Vancouver, was also reportedly being considered by Canada’s national team.

Notable omissions from the roster include goalkeepers Matt Turner and Zack Steffen, defenders Cameron Carter-Vickers and Joe Scally, midfielders Brenden Aaronson, Johnny Cardoso, Weston McKennie, Aidan Morris, Yunus Musah, and Tanner Tessmann, and forward Haji Wright.

Several players were unavailable due to injuries or recovery from injuries. This includes left back Antonee Robinson (knee surgery), midfielder Malik Tillman (calf), and forwards Patrick Agyemang (hernia surgery), Folarin Balogun (ankle), and Ricardo Pepi (knee surgery following injury on Jan. 29).

Gio Reyna was not included in the squad after recently transferring to Borussia Mönchengladbach.

The U.S., fielding a team missing several key players, lost to Mexico 2-1 in the Gold Cup final. Pochettino retained 12 players from that Gold Cup roster for these upcoming friendlies.

Turner had been the starting goalkeeper for the U.S. from 2022 through last spring but lost his place to Matt Freese during the Gold Cup after limited playing time with his club. Since returning to Major League Soccer with New England, Turner has started three games, just one fewer than he did for Crystal Palace in all of 2024-25.

Steffen, who was the starting goalkeeper for much of the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign, has played six games for Colorado since returning from right knee surgery on July 12.

Other players from the Gold Cup squad who were dropped include goalkeeper Chris Brady; defenders Miles Robinson, John Tolkin, and Walker Zimmerman; midfielders Quinn Sullivan; and forwards Paxten Aaronson and Brian White.

Published on Aug 26, 2025