U.S. men’s national team forwards Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah are off the roster for the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals against Trinidad and Tobago due to their recent injuries, U.S. Soccer announced Thursday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Pulisic exited AC Milan’s Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday with an apparent leg injury, but tests conducted since appear to have ruled out a serious injury. Weah picked up a leg injury last month with Juventus.
- Tyler Adams also remains sidelined after having surgery on his hamstring injury.
- Twenty of the 24 players who were part of the USMNT camp last month return to the roster, including Gio Reyna and Folarin Balogun.
- The Americans are looking for their third straight CONCACAF Nations League title. The quarterfinal round also serves as a qualifier for the 2024 Copa America, which will be hosted in the United States next summer.
The path to a third @CNationsLeague title begins in Austin. 🏆
Your November https://t.co/eidorGRz9a pic.twitter.com/ouBAloxgde
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) November 9, 2023
Full roster (club/country; caps/goals)
GOALKEEPERS: Ethan Horvath (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 9/0), Gaga Slonina (KAS Eupen; 1/0), Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 35/0)
DEFENDERS: Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic/SCO; 14/0), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 30/2), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo/ITA; 3/0), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 53/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 14/1), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 37/2), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 27/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 7/0)
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MIDFIELDERS: Paxten Aaronson (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER; 1/0), Johnny Cardoso (Internacional/BRA; 9/0), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/ESP; 19/0), Lennard Maloney (Heidenheim/GER; 1/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 48/11), Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA; 31/0), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 22/6), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 6/0)
FORWARDS: Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin/GER; 36/8), Folarin Balogun (Monaco/FRA; 6/3), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg/GER; 2/0), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 20/9), Alex Zendejas (Club América/MEX; 7/1)
No Pulisic or Weah on wings
The big news is the absence of Pulisic. It seemed the U.S. escaped the worst when news came from Italy that it was muscle fatigue and not a worse injury that will keep Pulisic out in the long term, but clearly, the team did not want to risk pushing the hamstring further with travel and games against T&T. Losing Pulisic for this window is exacerbated by the injury and absence of Weah, which means the U.S. will be without both of their starting wingers.
Pulisic and Weah have been two of the best and most consistent performers over the last year. Brenden Aaronson seems set to start for the USMNT on one wing, but this is a true test of the depth chart with young Kevin Paredes and Alejandro Zendejas vying to prove they can be effective contributors. — Paul Tenorio, soccer senior writer
Midfield shape
With Adams out until next year, Berhalter must find someone he can count on as the No. 6. Losing his two top wingers for this window complicates that, however. The U.S. likely won’t want either of Weston McKennie or Yunus Musah coming off the bench considering they are already without both Pulisic and Weah, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see both start behind Reyna in Austin. Trinidad isn’t Germany, so there should be less of a demand for a true defensive midfielder in front of the back line, though it’s worth pointing out that the U.S. looked better against Ghana when Johnny Cardoso started as the No. 6 and McKennie came off the bench. — Tenorio
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What’s at stake?
The games against Trinidad represent not just a chance to qualify for the semifinals of the Nations League to defend their back-to-back titles, but also hold importance for next summer in the form of qualification for the Copa America. The tournament is set to be held in the United States and is a key opportunity for this team to face off against top opponents like Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay as it prepares for the 2026 World Cup. — Tenorio
What they’re saying
“The objective ahead of us is clear,” USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter said in a statement. “We want to compete for our third Nations League title and the chance to play in Copa America, and it’s going to take focus and determination to get past Trinidad and Tobago.
“We have had a core group together for the last two windows in preparation for this opportunity, and we want to finish the year on a strong note and position ourselves to compete in two important competitions next year.”
Schedule and how to watch
The home leg of the quarters is set for Nov. 16 at 9 p.m. ET in Austin, Texas, with the away leg on Nov. 20 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (7 p.m. ET).
Both matches will be broadcast live on TNT, Universo, MAX and Peacock.
Required reading
- USMNT Player Tracker: Reyna on the periphery, Pepi thriving and Wright brace in vain
- Gio Reyna is back shining for the USMNT – but can he stay there?
- Burke: Don’t judge the USMNT like a club team; international soccer is unpredictable
(Photo of Pulisic: Christopher Hanewinckel / USA Today)