Why was Christian Pulisic left off USMNT roster? Mauricio Pochettino leaves AC Milan star home to recover fitness

As fans tune in to see the U.S. men's national team compete in official matches for the first time since the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a number of new faces will be present.

With that, a host of well-known superstars will not be amongst the 28 players convening for USMNT camp this September, led by superstar Christian Pulisic.

The 27-year-old was not amongst the squad of players called up by Mauricio Pochettino for friendly games against Peru, Chile, Mexico, and Canada across the next two weeks in a combined, four-match international break.

The Sporting News explains why Pulisic was not brought in to national team camp, and why those who are present on the roster were called up instead.

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Why was Christian Pulisic left off USMNT roster for fall 2026?

A combination of fitness and roster selection preferences left USMNT superstar Christian Pulisic off the roster for the four matches in September and October of 2026.

Pulisic has only just returned from an injury suffered in the World Cup earlier this summer, yet to start a single match for AC Milan.

Additionally, Mauricio Pochettino has called in a youthful squad for the coming four friendlies, leaving other regular stars like Folarin Balogun, Tim Weah, and Brenden Aaronson on the sidelines in favor of young talents like Cavan Sullivan, Julian Hall, and Justin Ellis, amongst many others.

Pochettino told reporters upon unveiling the roster that he was specifically targeting the 2028 Olympics with his roster selection, hoping to get a number of top U-23 eligible players some senior national team experience to help build them for a gold medal run two years down the road in Los Angeles.

So, with the combination of his recovering fitness and the youth movement, there was no place for Pulisic on the roster. He will use the two weeks off to rest, recover, and prepare for the next run of matches for his club team, with Milan set to return to action against Sassuolo on October 11 before a Europa League visit to RB Leipzig four days later.

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Is Christian Pulisic injured?

Christian Pulisic is not currently injured, but he has also recently returned from injury and therefore is not fully fit, at least according to AC Milan boss Ruben Amorim.

The 27-year-old suffered a microfracture in his lower leg in the World Cup defeat to Belgium earlier this summer, U.S. Soccer confirmed in the aftermath of the team's exit from the competition on home soil. Pulisic was injured early in the second half when he went to take a shot but instead kicked the back of Youri Tielemens' leg.

He was eventually replaced in the 59th minute by Sebastian Berhalter, a major blow to the United States who were ultimately beaten handily by their European opponents.

The injury left Pulisic sidelined for several weeks, disrupting the start of the 2026/27 club season with AC Milan. Pulisic was absent for all of preseason, and was an unused substitute for Milan's first three Serie A matches of the new campaign.

Pulisic finally returned to action with 45 minutes off the bench against Lazio on September 12, and then again playing the full second half in a 2-0 defeat to Benfica in the Europa League four days later. He has not yet started a match for Milan.

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USMNT roster for September, October international break

Pochettino called in 28 players for the September and October friendlies against Peru, Chile, Mexico, and Canada. The normal size of the roster is 26, but with four matches in this window instead of the usual two, he has decided to bring a few extra players to spread out the load, account for injuries, and take advantage of the extra minutes.

Below is the confirmed roster for the U.S. men's national team for the coming fall international break, which was announced Thursday, September 16.

There are a slew of uncapped players, 13 in total, with eight teenagers and 12 players on the roster eligible to play in the 2028 Olympics.

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Confirmed USMNT roster for September, October 2026