Christian Pulisic snubbed for first USMNT roster since World Cup
Christian Pulisic has been left out of the United States roster for the initial fixtures of coach Mauricio Pochettino’s second term, while 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan was among 13 newcomers named on Thursday with the opportunity to become the youngest player to feature for the national team in 20 years.
Yunus Musah, a veteran of the 2022 World Cup who last played for the Americans in March 2025, was also named in the 28-player selection for upcoming friendlies against Peru (Sept. 26 in Orlando, Florida), Chile (Sept. 29 in St. Louis), Mexico (Oct. 3 in Glendale, Arizona), and Canada (Oct. 6 in St. Paul, Minnesota).
Pulisic, the squad’s star player, failed to find the net at last summer’s World Cup, where a calf problem kept him out of one match and forced him off early in two others. The winger, who turns 28 on Friday, was substituted during the second half of the round of 16 loss to Belgium after suffering a microfracture of his right tibia and fibula, and only made his season debut for AC Milan last weekend.
Sullivan, who made his Major League Soccer debut for Philadelphia at age 14 in July 2024, will be two days short of turning 17 when the U.S. faces Peru. He could become the youngest player to cap for the U.S. national team since Freddy Adu debuted at 16 years, 234 days against Canada on Jan. 22, 2006.
The list of potential debutants also features 17-year-old midfielders Adri Mehmeti and Mathis Albert; 18-year-old defenders Peyton Miller and Neil Pierre; 18-year-old forward Julian Hall; 19-year-old midfielder Zavier Gozo; 19-year-old forward Justin Ellis; 20-year-old goalkeeper Diego Kochen; 20-year-old right back Frankie Westfield; 20-year-old midfielders Cole Campbell and Brooklyn Raines; and 25-year-old goalkeeper Brian Schwake.
Two selected players hold just a single international cap: 22-year-old goalkeeper Chris Brady and 25-year-old defender George Campbell.
Only 13 players remain from the 26-man World Cup selection: goalkeepers Matt Freese and Brady; defenders Sergiño Dest, Alex Freeman, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Miles Robinson, and Austin Trusty; midfielders Tyler Adams, Sebastian Berhalter, Gio Reyna, and Malik Tillman; and forward Ricardo Pepi.
Folarin Balogun was left out after failing to feature for Monaco this season following a failed move to Everton. Other World Cup roster members omitted include goalkeeper Matt Turner; defenders Max Arfsten, Mark McKenzie, Tim Ream, and Joe Scally; midfielders Weston McKennie and Cristian Roldan; and forwards Brenden Aaronson, Tim Weah, Haji Wright, and Alejandro Zendejas.
A total of 12 players are drawn from Major League Soccer.
The full roster:
Goalkeepers: Chris Brady (Chicago), Matt Freese (New York City), Diego Kochen (Lyngby), Brian Schwake (Nashville).
Defenders: George Campbell (West Bromwich Albion), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Peyton Miller (New England), Neil Pierre (Philadelphia), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (Cincinnati), Auston Trusty (Celtic), Frankie Westfield (Philadelphia).
Midfielders: Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Mathis Albert (Borussia Dortmund), Sebastian Berhalter (Middlesbrough), Zavier Gozo (Crystal Palace), Adri Mehmeti (New York Red Bulls), Yunus Musah (AC Milan), Brooklyn Raines (New England), Gio Reyna (Strasbourg), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen).
Forwards: Cole Campbell (SV Elversberg), Justin Ellis (Orlando), Julian Hall (New York Red Bulls), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia).
