It’s the final weekend of play in the European leagues with lots of spots still up for grab for Champions League and European league options – especially in the EPL. Read below for all the breakdowns.
US Men’s Team Roster Set for Gold Cup
So the last major tournament before the World Cup will happen with about 1/3 of the US starters missing due to World Club Cup matches this summer – and of course Pulisic is not coming due to wear and tear this season. (read all about the rosters below)
US Men’s Team Roster
GOALKEEPERS: Matt Freese (New York City FC), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace)
DEFENDERS: Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Alex Freeman (Orlando City), DeJuan Jones (San Jose Earthquakes), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati)
MIDFIELDERS: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven), Sean Zawadzki (Columbus Crew)
FORWARDS: Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC), Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Damion Downs (FC Köln), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps), Haji Wright (Coventry City)
TV Games
Wed, May 28
Paramount Plus Chelsea vs Real Bettis (Ricardo) Europa Conference League Final in Poland
Sat, May 31
CBS 3 pm Inter Milan vs PSG UEFA Champions League Final in Munich, Germany
5 pm TBS US Women vs China
Sun, June 1
Fox Sport 1 Cruz Azul vs Vancouver Whitecaps CC Champions Cup Final
Tues, June 3
TNT, Max, Peacock US Women vs Jamaica
Wed, June 4
2:45 pm Fox Germany vs Portugal – Nations League Semi
Thurs, June 5
2:45 pm Fox Spain vs France– Nations League Semi
Sat, June 7
3:30 pm TNT, Tele US Men vs Turkey
Sun, June 8
2:45 pm Fox Nations League Finals
Tues, June 10
8 pm TNT, Peacock US Men vs Switzerland
June 13 – 29 GOLD CUP MEN
Sun, June 15
6 pm FS1 US Men vs Trinidad Gold Cup
Thur, June 19
6 pm FS1 US Men vs KSA Gold Cup
Sun, June 22
7 pm FS1 US Men vs Haiti Gold Cup
Sun, June 26
TBS, Peacock US Women vs Ireland
Sun, June 29th
TNT, Peacock US Women vs Ireland in Cincy
USMNT weekend viewing guide: Long weekend, short schedule
Still some things to be wrapped up this holiday weekend. May 23rd – Stars & Stripes
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It’s the last weekend of action in Italy, England and Spain, and the Netherlands and Germany have already wrapped up. So it’s a bit of an abbreviated schedule with many places already set, but there is still some action to catch this weekend ahead of the long summer break. Here’s what we’re watching:
Saturday
AC Milan v Monza – 2:45p on Paramount+
Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah also finish their season at home hosting already relegated Monza on Saturday afternoon. Milan will finish no worse than their current ninth place, but can climb no higher than seventh (and would need help for that) so will finish outside of the European spots this season. It’s possible that both Pulisic and Musah could move on from the club this summer, Musah’s playing time has really fallen off down the stretch and Pulisic would reportedly like to learn more about Milan’s plans before committing to a contract extension that would lock him in past next season.
Sunday
Fulham v Manchester City – 11a on Peacock
Antonee Robinson and Fulham sit in tenth place, leading the pack of American’s in the middle of the table. Fulham could hop Brentford for ninth place but will be facing a Manchester City side that need a win to guarantee their Champions League spot for next season. A loss, combined with wins by the trio of teams behind them (Newcastle, Chelsea, and Aston Villa) would push City down to sixth place and the Europa League. Robinson started again last week but has missed alternating matches over the past four matchdays and he was not included in the summer roster that was released on Thursday.
Bournemouth v Leicester – 11a on Peacock
Tyler Adams and Bournemouth sit in eleventh place, one point back of Fulham. Bournemouth’s task is quite a bit easier this weekend as they take on an already relegated Leicester City side. Since his return from injury in mid-October Adams has appeared in nearly every match for Bournemouth, starting most of those. Unfortunately a mid-February through March swoon took Bournemouth out of the running for the top six and they have dropped their last two matches as well but finishing the season with a win against Leicester on Sunday could end things on a more positive note.
Liverpool v Crystal Palace – 11a on NBC
Chris Richards and Crystal Palace are the last of the US trio and are facing Liverpool who will be taking a victory lap for having won the league title. It will be tough work to jump Fulham and Bournemouth into the top ten of the Premier League standings but Crystal Palace already have a Europa League spot for next season thanks to their FA Cup victory which also brought home the first trophy in the clubs 120 year history.
Venezia v Juventus – 2:45p on Paramount+
Venezia’s loss last weekend combined with wins by both Empoli and Lecce dropped Venezia into nineteenth place, needing a win this weekend as well as loss from Lecce and a loss or draw from Empoli this weekend. Unfortunately, Gianluca Busio and Venezia will be facing fourth place Juventus who also need a win to secure a Champions League spot for next season. Weston McKennie started and Tim Weah came on as a substitute last weekend as Juventus defeated Udinese 2-0 to maintain their narrow lead over Roma and Lazio, either of who could pass Juventus this weekend if they fail to defeat Venezia.
USA
Mauricio Pochettino names 27-man USMNT training roster ahead of Gold Cup
Gold Cup absences are a worst-case scenario for USMNT’s World Cup hopes Jeff Carlisle
Five fringe players who deserve a call-up for USMNT Gold Cup team Jeff Carlisle
IFA’s amazing 2026 World Cup host city posters feature astronauts, cowboys, giant lobsters
USMNT midweek roundup: Freeman, Sullivan, Agyemang in Open Cup
USWNT star Fox on Arsenal’s resilience, facing Barcelona in UWCL final
World
Salah named Premier League Player of the Season
What’s at stake on the final weekend: Titles, cup finals, UCL, relegation
Napoli edge out Inter to win 4th Serie A title
Klopp on booing TAA: So upset I turned off TV
How Arne Slot, Liverpool won the Premier League in 2024-25
Why do fans boo their team, and will it happen again to Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold?
What’s at stake on the final weekend: Titles, cup finals, UCL, relegation
Son ends Spurs drought: ‘Let’s say I’m a legend’
Goalkeeping
1 v 1 – Close Down Attacker – don’t back up
Yes Yann Sommer was that good vs Barca – 10 saves
Sommer tips last shot to save game vs Yamal
June 16th: 9-4 / June 17th: 8-3 12383 Cyntheanne Rd, Fishers, IN $595 Register
Reffing
El Classico Handball or not?
Attacking Player in Wall?
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Europe’s top soccer leagues: Titles, cup finals, UCL, relegation
Dale JohnsonMay 23, 2025, 06:42 PM ET
The 2024-25 season has entered the closing stages, with the battles for the major honours, European qualification, relegation and promotion reached their conclusion.
Here’s a roundup of what’s at stake and what could be decided in the English Premier League, German Bundesliga, Spanish LaLiga, Italian Serie A and French Ligue 1.
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This page will be updated through to the end of the European season.
Premier League
Last day: May 25
Title
Liverpool (83) were confirmed as champions on April 27, with four games to spare.
Champions League (6)
CONFIRMED
- 1. Liverpool (37 games played, 83 points)
- 2. Arsenal (37, 71)
- 17. Tottenham (Europa League winners)
Premier League table
| GP | PTS | GD | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 – Liverpool | 37 | 83 | +45 |
| 2 – Arsenal | 37 | 71 | +34 |
| 3 – Man City | 37 | 68 | +26 |
| 4 – Newcastle | 37 | 66 | +22 |
| 5 – Chelsea | 37 | 66 | +20 |
| 6 – Aston Villa | 37 | 66 | +9 |
| 7 – Nottm Forest | 37 | 65 | +13 |
| 8 – Brighton | 37 | 58 | +4 |
| 9 – Brentford | 37 | 55 | +9 |
In 2025-26, the Premier League has been allocated five teams in the Champions League due to the performance of its clubs in Europe this season, meaning the top five will qualify for the UCL. Liverpool and Arsenal (71) have booked two of them.
In addition, Tottenham Hotspur won the Europa League, beating Manchester United 1-0 in the final, which earns a place in the Champions League. So the Premier League will have six teams in the UCL and nine in Europe.
All of the top seven are guaranteed European football of some description.
That leaves three spots up for grabs, with five teams battling it out. Manchester City, Newcastle United and Chelsea are holding them right now; Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest will try to fight their way into those key positions on Sunday.
Remaining games – UCL race
| Team | GW38 |
|---|---|
| CHELSEA | Nottm Forest (a) |
| FOREST | Chelsea (H) |
| NEWCASTLE | Everton (H) |
| MAN CITY | Fulham (a) |
| VILLA | Man United (a) |
Superior goal difference over Villa means Man City only need a point, while Newcastle and Chelsea definitely seal it with a win.
But there’s a big last-day fixture, when Chelsea head to Forest — who need a victory to have any chance.
Newcastle are at home to Everton, Villa go to Man United and Man City are at Fulham.
This is what each team needs for UCL football:
MAN CITY (68, +26)
In short: a point seals it
Win: Guaranteed UCL
Draw: Effectively guaranteed UCL due to superior goal difference over Villa
Lose: Get UCL unless Newcastle, Chelsea and Villa all win
NEWCASTLE (66, +22)
In short: a win seals it
Win: Effectively guaranteed UCL due to superior goal difference over Villa
Draw: Get UCL unless there’s both a winner in Forest vs. Chelsea and Villa win
Lose: Only get UCL if Villa lose to Man United
CHELSEA (66, +20)
In short: a win seals it
Win: Effectively guaranteed UCL due to superior goal difference over Villa
Draw: Get UCL unless both Newcastle win/draw and Villa win
Lose: Only get UCL if Villa lose to Man United and Newcastle lose by a greater margin (than Chelsea) of four goals
ASTON VILLA (66, +9)
In short: a draw could do it, but really they must win and hope another result goes their way
Win: Get UCL if one of Man City lose, Newcastle lose/draw or Chelsea lose/draw
Draw: Get UCL if Newcastle lose
Lose: Cannot get UCL
NOTTINGHAM FOREST (65, +12)
In short: must win and hope another result goes their way
Win: Get UCL if one of Newcastle draw/lose or Aston Villa draw/lose
Draw: Cannot get UCL
Lose: Cannot get UCL
Europa League (2)
CONFIRMED
- 12. Crystal Palace (FA Cup winners)
As it stands, sixth (Aston Villa) will enter the Europa League by league position, and it will go to one of those teams in the Champions League section.
Editor’s Picks
- With one game to go, find out how the European places work in the Premier League1dDale Johnson
- Clásico kits: Barcelona, Real Madrid’s all-time best, worst jerseys16dAlex Kirkland and Sam Marsden
- Champions League final: Inter or PSG? Our experts make their picks16dMultiple contributors
Sixth are joined by the FA Cup winners, Crystal Palace. (stream a replay on ESPN+ in the U.S.)
If Chelsea win the Conference League — they are in the final vs. Real Betis on Wednesday — they are guaranteed at least a place in the Europa League, but will play in the Champions League if they finish in the top five. Their final position could also influence the allocation of European places.
There is a way for seventh to get a place in the Europa League. This requires:
1) Newcastle to finish in the top five
2) Chelsea to finish sixth
3) Chelsea to win the Conference League
In this scenario, there would be no English club in the Conference League, but three in the Europa League.
How Manchester United can recruit for the rebuild
Mark Ogden talks about Manchester United’s recruitment approach to improve the squad for next season under Ruben Amorim.
Conference League (1)
Newcastle are guaranteed at least a place in the Conference League playoff round, as they won the Carabao Cup. But if Newcastle finish in the top six, which is almost certain, to play in the UCL or UEL, the Conference League place goes to seventh.
Eighth can still take the Conference League place, which requires:
1) Chelsea to finish seventh
2) Chelsea to win the Conference League
It’s also possible if Chelsea finish sixth and Newcastle are seventh, but that is now highly improbable.
After Tuesday night’s results, we now know exactly what needs to happen for eighth (and that means 10 Premier League teams) to get into Europe. And it really is possible:
1) Chelsea lose at Nottingham Forest
2) Aston Villa win or draw at Manchester United
3) Chelsea win the Conference League
Brighton & Hove Albion (58, +4) are in command of the place and only Brentford (55, +9) can catch them.
Brighton need at least a point from their game at Spurs on Sunday to secure eighth place. However, if Brighton lose they can get overtaken by Brentford, who are away at Wolves, as the Bees have the better goal difference.
Relegation (3)
CONFIRMED
- 18. Leicester (37, 25)
- 19. Ipswich (37, 22)
- 20. Southampton (37, 12)
Southampton (12), Ipswich Town (22) and Leicester City (25) have been relegated.
Leeds United and Burnley were automatically promoted back to the top flight from the Championship; Sheffield United take on Sunderland in the Championship playoff final on Saturday.
Serie A
Last day: May 25
Title
The tight title race came to a head on Friday when either Napoli (82) or Internazionale (81) could have been crowned champions.
Both won 2-0, with Napoli’s victory over Cagliari ensuring they were crowned champions.
Champions League (4)
CONFIRMED
- 1. Napoli (38, 82)
- 2. Inter Milan (38, 81)
- 3. Atalanta (37, 74)
Napoli and Internazionale have already been joined by Atalanta (74). The fight for the last spot goes to Sunday.
Juventus (67) have fourth place in their own destiny. AS Roma (66) are the closest challengers, while Lazio (65) are outsiders.
Juve must win at relegation-threatened Venezia to be sure of their place in the UCL.
If Juve draw, they can only be overtaken by Roma (because Juve hold the head-to-head record over Lazio), who would have to win at Torino.
If Juve lose, they drop out of the top four with a win for either Roma or Lazio. If Juve and Roma (with a draw) are on 67 points, Juve will be ahead on goal difference — but Lazio could take fourth with a victory.
Lazio are at home to Lecce, another team in relegation danger. Lazio have to win, hope Juve lose and Roma draw/lose.
NB: There is one crazy scenario. If Juve lose 3-0 to Venezia, Roma draw 1-1, and Lazio draw/lose, then Juve and Roma would be level on all tiebreakers. Fourth place would be decided by … a coin toss.
If Inter win the Champions League there will be no impact on the Serie A places.
Europa League (2)
CONFIRMED
- 8. Bologna (Coppa Italia winners)
Bologna (62)are guaranteed Europa League football after they won the Coppa Italia, beating AC Milan 1-0 in the final.
Fifth place (Roma as it stands) will play in the Europa League by league position, which will also be a battle between Juve, Roma and Lazio.
Conference League (1)
At present this goes to sixth (Lazio), though it will pass to seventh if Bologna finish sixth.
Even so, if Bologna win at home to Genoa on Saturday, and Lazio lose to Lecce on Sunday, then Bologna could be sixth and Lazio seventh — so it would still be Lazio in the Conference League place.
However, if Fiorentina (62, away to Udinese on Sunday), Bologna and Lazio end up level on 65 points, that will be the final order — with Fiorentina in the Conference League spot.
AC Milan (60) cannot qualify for Europe.
Relegation (3)
CONFIRMED
- 20. Monza (37, 18)
Monza (18) were relegated at the start of this month.
It’s a fierce battle to avoid the last two spots between Venezia (29), Empoli (31) and Lecce (31).
Going into Sunday’s games, Venezia have to win at home to Juve to have any chance, and then hope both Empoli (home to Hellas Verona) and Lecce (away to Lazio) lose to definitely stay up.
If two teams finish level on points for 17th — this can happen if Venezia win and one of the other teams draw — then there will be a one-legged playoff hosted by the team with the best goal difference to stay in Serie A.
In Serie B, Sassuolo and Pisa have been promoted. One of six clubs will also come up through the end-of-season playoffs. Spezia, Cremonese, Juve Stabia, Catanzaro, Cesena and Palermo will take part for the last promotion place. The second leg of the semifinals take place on Sunday.
LaLiga
Last day: May 25
Title
There is one round of games to be played in Spain. (Stream all LaLiga games live on ESPN+, US only)
Barcelona (85) were crowned champions on May 15.
Champions League (5)
CONFIRMED
- 1. Barcelona (37, 85)
- 2. Real Madrid (37, 81)
- 3. Atlético Madrid (37, 73)
- 4. Athletic Club (37, 70)
- 5. Villarreal (37, 67)
Like the Premier League, LaLiga will have five teams in the Champions League next season.
Barcelona, Real Madrid (81), Atlético Madrid (73), Athletic Club (70) and Villarreal (67) have already booked their places.
Barcelona celebrate 28th title win with parade
Barcelona celebrate winning their 28th LaLiga title win with an open-top bus parade through the streets of the city.
Europa League (2)
CONFIRMED
- 6. Real Betis (37, 59)
As Barcelona won the Copa del Rey, the place for the cup transfers to the league — sixth and seventh will enter the Europa League. One place goes to Real Betis (59), but there’s a close race for seventh.
Celta Vigo (52) hold the spot, followed by Rayo Vallecano (51) and Osasuna (51).
LaLiga table
| GP | PTS | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – Barcelona | 37 | 85 |
| 2 – Real Madrid | 37 | 81 |
| 3 – Atlético | 37 | 73 |
| 4 – Athletic Club | 37 | 70 |
| 5 – Villarreal | 37 | 67 |
| 6 – Real Betis | 37 | 59 |
| 7 – Celta Vigo | 37 | 52 |
| 8 – Vallecano | 37 | 51 |
| 9 – Osasuna | 37 | 51 |
The games involving these teams will be played on Saturday.
Celta Vigo go to Getafe knowing it’s still in their own hands: win, and they are in the Europa League.
Vallecano are at home to Mallorca, while Osasuna go to Alavés. If Celta Vigo slip up, Vallecano or Osasuna could take advantage. Vallecano hold the head-to-head record over Osasuna, who can therefore only qualify for the UEL with a victory if both Celta and Vallecano fail to win.
Real Betis are in the Conference League final, with the winners of competition earning a spot in the Europa League, but their performance can’t impact the LaLiga allocation.
Europa Conference League (1)
This will go to eighth place, held right now by Rayo Vallecano, with the same three teams battling it out as noted in the Europa League section. One of the trio will miss out on European football altogether.
Relegation (3)
CONFIRMED
- 19. Las Palmas (37, 32)
- 20. Real Valladolid (37, 16)
Real Valladolid (16) and Las Palmas (32) are already down, but the third relegation place is going to be decided on Saturday.
Leganés (37) host rock-bottom Valladolid, so they have a chance.
The only team Leganés can catch is Espanyol (39), who were well clear but have lost their last five matches. The good news for Espanyol? They are at home to Las Palmas, the other relegated team.
Leganés hold the head-to-head record over Espanyol, which means if Leganés get three points they will be safe if Espanyol fail to win.
It’s a very tight race for the two automatic promotion places from LaLiga2 with two games to be played. Levante, Elche, Real Oviedo, Mirandés and Racing Santander are fighting it out. A third team comes up through four-team playoffs.
Bundesliga
League season completed
Title
Bayern Munich (82) won the title on May 4.
Champions League (4)
CONFIRMED
- 1. Bayern Munich (34, 82)
- 2. Bayer Leverkusen (34, 69)
- 3. Eintracht Frankfurt (34, 60)
- 4. Borussia Dortmund (34, 57)
Bayern and Bayer Leverkusen (68) had already secured their places weeks ago, leaving a three-horse race for the final two spots on the final day.
Borussia Dortmund (57) booked a place on the final day, along with Eintracht Frankfurt (60) who won at Freiburg to cling on to a spot in the top four.
Has Bayer Leverkusen’s golden era come to an end?
Janusz Michallik believes Bayer Leverkusen’s most successful era has officially come to an end.
Europa League (2)
CONFIRMED
- 5. Freiburg (34, 55)
Only fifth qualified via league placing, with SC Freiburg (55) having to make do with a spot in the Europa League.
For the second successive season, the final of the DFB Pokal (stream LIVE on May 24 on ESPN+, U.S. only) sees a Bundesliga club take on a lower-league side. Last season, Leverkusen beat then-2. Bundesliga strugglers Kaiserslautern.
This time VfB Stuttgart will play Arminia Bielefeld who, incredibly, are in the third division and have been promoted as champions.
The winners of the Pokal will qualify for the Europa League.
Stuttgart finished ninth on 50 points, so there will be no transfer of the place to the league if they win the cup. If Arminia Bielefeld produce a shock win in the final, they are set to play in the Europa League as a second-division club
Conference League (1)
CONFIRMED
- 6. Mainz (34, 52)
Mainz (52) drew 2-2 at home to Leverkusen on the final day to finish sixth, though as it turned out they could have lost and still taken the Conference League qualifying round spot.
Relegation (2+1)
Two teams are relegated automatically, while third-bottom takes on third place in the 2.Bundesliga in a playoff.
CONFIRMED
- 17. Holstein Kiel (34, 25)
- 18. VfL Bochum (34 25)
VfL Bochum (25) and Holstein Kiel (25) are down, with 1. FC Heidenheim (29) unable to avoid the playoff after losing to Werder Bremen on the last day.
In 2.Bundesliga, Hamburg and FC Cologne are promoted. SV 07 Elversberg will face Heidenheim in the playoff. The first leg on Thursday finished 2-2, with the return to be played on Monday.
Ligue 1
League season completed
Title
Paris Saint-Germain (84) secured the title with ease on April 5.
If PSG win the Champions League there will be no impact on the Ligue 1 places.
Champions League (3+1)
France gets three automatic places, with fourth place entering the UCL in the third qualifying round.
CONFIRMED
- 1. Paris Saint-Germain (34, 84)
- 2. Marseille (34, 65)
- 3. AS Monaco (34, 61)
- 4. Nice (34, 60)
Marseille (65) and AS Monaco (61) sealed the direct spots with a game to spare.
Nice (60, +25) thrashed Brest 6-0 to secure the place in qualifying on goal difference ahead of Lille (60, +16).
Europa League (2)
CONFIRMED
- 5. Lille (34, 60)
Lille are sure to be in the Europa League.
If PSG win the Coupe de France final on Saturday, a UEL place will pass to sixth-placed Lyon (57). PSG play Stade de Reims, who are 16th and will not finish in a domestic European place. If Reims win the cup, they will be in the Europa League — possibly as a Ligue 2 club.
Conference League (1)
Strasbourg (57) were certain of being in Europe, until they lost to at home to Le Havre on the final day through a penalty in the 99th-minute. That meant they dropped below Lyon, and the only way Strasbourg can now qualify for Europe is if PSG take the Coupe de France — seventh place will be in the Conference League playoff round.
NB: Lyon are provisionally relegated to Ligue 2 on financial grounds, which could affect European allocation.
Relegation (2+1)
CONFIRMED
- 17. Saint-Etienne (34, 30)
- 18. Montpellier (34, 16)
Montpellier (16) went down in April.
Relegation for Saint-Etienne (30) was confirmed when they lost at home to Toulouse on the last day. Le Havre AC (34) looked certain to be in the relegation playoff with their game at Strasbourg level in the ninth minute of added time, but the late winner lifted them out of the bottom three and dumped in Stade de Reims (33).
Lorient and Paris FC have secured promotion from Ligue 2, with Metz to play Reims in the relegation/promotion playoff final — the first leg was 1-1 with the second leg on Thursday.
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What it’s like to watch your son win the FA Cup – by Chris Richards’ parents
14
May 24, 2025Updated 4:06 am EDT
Almost a week has passed since Carrie Richards watched her son climb the Wembley steps to be greeted by Prince William, and raise the FA Cup with his victorious Crystal Palace team-mates.
The rush of adrenaline will take some time yet to subside. So, too, will the beaming pride felt by Carrie and her husband, Ken. They flew in from Birmingham, Alabama, to see their son, the 25-year-old USMNT defender Chris Richards, become only the third American to win the FA Cup — as part of the Palace team that defeated Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
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Matt Turner, the national team’s goalkeeper, also received a winner’s medal, albeit he was an unused substitute on the day.
“Saturday was the most surreal experience of my life,” Carrie grins, speaking on a video call with The Athletic from the family home. “Seeing the fans walking down Wembley Way… I have never seen anything like it. The stadium was electric. My heart was beating. If I had worn my Apple watch, it probably would have told me I needed to go to the emergency room, from the moment we got there to the moment we left.”
The game itself was a nerve-shredding, nail-eviscerating experience.
Palace had never won a major trophy in their history. This was City’s 14th appearance in an FA Cup final and they had won two of the previous six editions of the tournament. For Palace to win demanded extreme commitment, the players stretching every last sinew in red and blue. It needed supreme organisation, a splash of quality and also a little fortune.
Palace scored the game’s only goal via their talismanic attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze, but also survived a red card review against their goalkeeper, Dean Henderson. He subsequently saved a penalty.
Henderson saves Omar Marmoush’s penalty as Richards watches on (Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar/Getty Images)
Carrie says: “Even if we’d been two or three ahead, I don’t I think I would have felt any more comfortable! A few weeks back, we were 2-0 up against City and we still lost 5-2 (in the Premier League fixture).”
Even after Palace survived 90 minutes of ordinary time, the fourth official’s board indicated 10 additional minutes for stoppages. Ken and Carrie blow out their cheeks. “We were counting down every last second,” she says. “I remember seeing we were down to three minutes, but there wasn’t a second where I was like, ‘OK, I can breathe now!’ until he blew the final whistle.”
That was the starting pistol for an explosion of joy and abandon. Carrie, who was seated with the families of the Palace players, says: “Everyone was in tears. Everyone was hugging…”
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“High-fiving, too,” Ken interjects. “It was crazy. We were just ecstatic, there were lots of balloons going around.”
The couple took in the scene. Multiple generations of families collapsing into each other on the terraces. Some players appeared to enter a trance; some sinking to their knees, others on their backs, exhausted, while more still embraced joyously. Messages from across the pond flooded into Carrie’s inbox. One photograph in particular, of royalty placing the winners’ medal around her son’s neck, kept coming through.
She says: ‘What’s funny is all my friends were more impressed with him being greeted by Prince William. They were like, ‘Oh my gosh!’ Americans are so fascinated with the royal family!”
Prince William, Prince of Wales, presented the cup to Crystal Palace (Eddie Keogh – The FA/Getty Images)
Richards excelled in the Palace defence, muzzling City superstar Erling Haaland. He made four blocks, 12 clearances and won five duels. Not once did an opponent dribble past him.
Before the game, his parents had sent their usual text messages. Ken says: “I tell him good luck. Trust your instincts, trust what you see, go out, play and have fun.”
Carrie’s message was a little more sentimental. “I was telling him how proud I was. The coach Oliver Glasner told him this opportunity was not a burden, but a privilege. We just wanted Chris to stay in the moment, be present, enjoy every minute, because we knew or had been told that it could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Carrie and Ken’s first pleasant surprise came when arriving at Wembley and seeing their son on the front cover of the match-day programme. As for how the Palace fans feel about him?
“People were walking around with Afro wigs on and American flags,” Carrie laughs. “A whole group (of fans) were in the section of the stadium chanting ‘USA!’ That’s priceless.”
Richards at Wembley (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
For the Richards family, this represented a milestone.
Their collective story is one of devotion and sacrifice. Unseen to the ordinary fan is how families share in the emotional rollercoaster of professional soccer; matchday at the highest level can test emotions, but the journey to the summit requires patience, empathy and no little resilience.
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Richards was born into a comfortable household. His mum worked in a managerial paralegal-type role in a law firm, while his dad owned a moving transportation company that helped people with house moves. But when the economy crashed in 2009, and far fewer people moved home, the business went under.
“We lost everything,” Carrie says. “We had to start completely over, from doing very well before to having absolutely nothing. We were definitely pinching pennies every week. I can remember one time even Chris getting in from practice and him handing me a letter that said if we didn’t pay his soccer fees, then he wouldn’t get to play that next week.
“I was so embarrassed. We were just robbing Peter to pay Paul every week.”
In the United States, life as a soccer parent can be exorbitantly expensive. Carrie and Ken say that Chris would often have games either out of state, or far enough away to require a hotel stay. He had two younger siblings who also required attention. “We were an average family and we were struggling to pay it,” Carrie says.
Trips out of town would cost at least $500 for a weekend. Carrie or Ken would often volunteer to drive the passenger van for the team, because that was a way to have the cost of a hotel covered.
“There was another player whose parents could never go, so they would split the hotel costs with us and they would stay in our room,” she says. “I don’t think him quitting was ever a question. For us, it was always just, ‘How are we going to do it?’ rather than, ‘Will we do it?’.”
A young Richards takes on his marker (Carrie Richards)
The family lived in Hoover, Alabama, around 10 miles south of Birmingham. A place where football is king — Hoover High School has 13 state titles — and soccer is seen as a curiosity. “Soccer here is probably the fifth most popular sport,” says Carrie. “It is only now (after the final) some people around us are starting to say, ‘Oh, now I understand what Chris achieved because he’s on the news’.
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“A few weeks ago, somebody asked me what I was going to London for. I said: ‘Oh, my son plays soccer in England’. And they’re like, ‘Oh he doesn’t want to play in the United States?’. So I think there’s still a lot of people around here just don’t understand the magnitude of playing in the Premier League.
“They’re like, ‘Oh, you’re going all the way to the UK for a game?’. Yes, the FA Cup is the oldest tournament in history! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
USA 🇺🇸 #CPFC pic.twitter.com/SGMtGrwuGJ
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) May 17, 2025
On Richards’ arms, he has tattoos of heroes including Martin Luther King Jr., Muhammad Ali and Barack Obama, but his first tattoo, written in Roman numerals, is the date he left home shortly after turning 16.
He had not long been cut by FC Dallas when he was offered a place at U.S. Soccer Academy Development club Houston Texans SC. This was a step down to move forwards, playing in a non-MLS academy 10 hours from home.
Chris, his mum admits, was “devastated” when Dallas let him go.
Ken says, “I’m a little old school and I felt like he would do one of two things: he would give up or use it as fuel to push him on. That’s exactly what he did. Sometimes it’s good to have a little disappointment. It built a resilience which helped him as he left home and especially when he later moved to Europe.”
A delighted Richards with team-mate Jean-Philippe Mateta at Wembley (Julian Finney – The FA/Getty Images)
For both parents, letting their eldest boy fly the nest was a wrench. Houston found him a host family, the Eastons, who met Carrie and Ken once before taking in their son. They remain in touch to this day and describe the family as “just amazing”.
“We were thinking that we have two more years to prepare him for life — to learn how to cook, how to make a doctor’s appointment,” says Carrie. “He moved 10 hours away to a family that we’d barely met in a city that we’ve never been to. We were praying for the best.
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“But he was saying: ‘We’ve got to do this’. So, OK, I’ve got to get on board. It was heart wrenching.
“I cried every day for God knows how long. Every time we went to see him, I would cry when we left. He didn’t even have his driver’s licence yet. Our other son Christian was two, just a little baby, and he was missing his big brother. It was almost like he’d gone to college two years early. We mentally weren’t ready for that.”
Ken smiles. “And there were so many people, family and friends, in our ears, saying, ‘Are you guys going to let them go? You guys are crazy. This is the worst idea you could have!’,” he says.
Carrie continues, “We were second guessing ourselves, asking: ‘Is this the dumbest thing we’ve ever done?’.”
It turned out to be the opposite.
Richards grew in height and quality while in Houston and his team racked up a string of impressive wins, including against the team who had released him. Dallas then invited him back and, after trials at Borussia Dortmund and Hoffenheim, he was signed by Bayern Munich just as he turned 18.
There were a handful of appearances for Bayern’s first team, as well as loan spells at Hoffenheim, before Palace spent an initial €12million (£10m; $13.5m) on Richards in the summer of 2022. This campaign has been his best yet, starting 28 games in Glasner’s exciting Palace team, particularly coming to the fore in a second half of the season in which Palace have shot up the Premier League table and claimed the FA Cup.
Carrie, Chris and Ken Richards with the FA Cup (Carrie Richards)
“It was very moving at the final to see how much it meant to the people of south London — for him to be a part of something that’s so historic,” says Ken. “He’ll forever be a part of that. Maybe 100 years from now, it’ll be maybe a trivia question: ‘Who’s the American centre-back when we won our first FA Cup?’.”
After the game, there was time for hugs, drinks and photographs at the nearby Boxpark, both with his parents and his girlfriend, who recently gave birth for the first time. His siblings watched from home, with his sister Mackenzie studying at college and younger brother Christian still at school. They sent explanations from across the pond when Carrie and Ken were trying to understand, amid little in-stadium communication, why the game had been delayed for a VAR review of Henderson’s handball outside the penalty area.
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But enough about Chris the footballer. What does Chris the person mean to his parents?
Ken pauses, his eyes moistening. “He’s such a good person. Everybody thinks highly of their kids but he really is a great person who cares about other people. He’s very humble, very considerate…”
Carrie jumps in: “He has a really good sense of humor.”
Ken nods: “Yes, he’s funny. There are so many adjectives I can use, but he’s special.”
Carrie says: “He would do anything for either of us, for his siblings. He’s loyal to the friends he grew up with.”
Richards and fellow USMNT player Turner parade the FA Cup around Wembley (Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images)
As parents of an American soccer player, the next year brings excitement, with a home World Cup on the horizon in the summer of 2026.
“He was injured right before the World Cup in Qatar,” Carrie adds. “Since we had already taken off the time to go to the World Cup, we decided to go over and spend that time with him, because he was not in a good place emotionally at all. So we made sure we were there for him.
“When he was a little boy, he always had these little sticky notes on his mirror: he wants to achieve this or he wants to achieve that. Playing in the World Cup was one one of these. We would be so incredibly proud.”What You Should Read NextHow Crystal Palace won the FA Cup: A tearjerking tifo, lucky cufflinks and Glasner’s masterplanThe most glorious day in Crystal Palace’s history was a long time coming – and a result of meticulous planning
(Top photo: Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)
Pochettino uses USMNT Gold Cup squad to send a pointed message
By Paul Tenorio
61
May 22, 2025
The news coming out of Thursday’s U.S. men’s national team roster release was the names that were missing.
No Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Gio Reyna, Yunus Musah or Josh Sargent.
The reasons for those absences from this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup vary. McKennie, Weah and Reyna are playing in the FIFA Club World Cup. Musah asked to be excused due to personal reasons. Sargent was a coach’s choice. Robinson has dealt with numerous injuries this season with Fulham and needed a rest. Pulisic requested to get the summer off after playing another 50-game campaign for AC Milan.
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“Many people can say it’s really important for us to be all together for the last time (in a tournament) before the World Cup,” Pochettino said. “But always as a coaching staff we listen to the player and then, of course, we take the decision. We have our own idea in everything, but after the consideration … we decided the best for him, the best for the team, the best for the national team is the decision that we made.”
The larger message from Pochettino, though, was clear — both for the players who were absent and the ones that were going to be in camp.
Christian Pulisic won’t be involved in the USMNT’s Gold Cup quest this summer. (Photo by Shaun Clark/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
“The important thing is to provide to the new players the possibility to challenge,” Pochettino said. “And to challenge the possibility to take a place. My first conversation we are going to have on (June 1) when we are all together is: ‘Listen, guys. You have the possibility to defend your place. When you are now in the national team, it is not because you are here to try to replace people that (are) sure that (they are) going to be here. No, you have the possibility to defend your place. How you are going to defend your place, that is the important thing for us. You need to fight, you need to show attitude, the right attitude, but not only that, perform, and be brave, and follow the rules that we set in the group.’
“I think it is really important for us. And of course they need to know that they … are going to compete in a fair way with different people that maybe are not involved today in this squad.”
In other words: Fight like this is your job to lose, not your job to win. Because no one is guaranteed a spot on this U.S. national team.
The performances in March in the Concacaf Nations League finals, when the U.S. lost to both Panama and Canada, left plenty to be desired and room to see more desire from the group. That is what Pochettino seems to be seeking. His praise of Diego Luna’s approach in the last camp was about the RSL midfielder’s passion as much as his on-field play.More on U.S. SoccerNew USMNT, USWNT kits feature classic looks with a nod to an iconic throwbackWith the 2026 World Cup on home soil nearing, the USMNT has one new look, while the USWNT has a complete set that meets a World Cup standard
The names being brought into this camp seem to be a bid to inject more of that into a group that needs it. There are players like Sebastian Berhalter, the son of ex-U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter, who got released by Columbus and Austin and has earned his call-up with his strong form for the Vancouver Whitecaps; Luna, who has spoken often about constantly feeling like he needed to prove himself; and Alex Freeman, the son of a Super Bowl winner who will get a chance to make his national team debut amid a breakout season in Orlando.
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“Obviously those thoughts have crossed my mind,” Freeman said when asked last week by The Athletic about a potential USMNT call-up. “It just gives me more to work for, more to strive for. It would be a dream to play for them.”
The value of this Gold Cup could be finding the right mix of hungry players for the World Cup squad in order to offset a core that has at times been considered a “golden generation.” The utility is in creating the right culture within the group.
Pochettino has made clear that he doesn’t care where players play their club soccer. Asked about a handful of European-based players who were not on the team, Pochettino said they are “at the same level as some of the players that are now involved in the roster.”
“My feeling in all these camps — from October, November, January and March — I think many players, they took the chance and deserve again to come back,” he said. “Because they not only performed and behaved well in the camp, after that they kept performing in their teams.”
Pochettino is hoping for a bounce-back summer for the USMNT, a year out from the World Cup it will cohost. (Photo by Erich Schlegel/Imagn Images)
Pochettino continued rolling in his answer, thinking back on a previous question asked. His response spoke plenty about where he thinks this team can improve and the type of players he’s seeking to improve it.
“In a previous question you asked: Is (this squad meant) to punish or say ‘pay attention’ to some players? I think what we want to create in our national team is people desperate to come, but desperate to come to perform,” he said. “To perform means follow the rules, create a good atmosphere, be part of the team. Be able, in every single aspect, (to meet) our (federation) demands … and understand that it’s possible (this could) be the last possibility to be with us. Because (in most windows) we only have time to come to maybe train one, two, three times, then play. One, two recovery sessions and then play. And then go home and maybe wait two months to be all together (again). If you arrive to the camp and you want to spend a nice time, play golf, go for a dinner, visit my family, visit my friend. Is that the culture that we want to create? No, no, no, no, no.
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“What we want to do is to go to the national team, arrive and be focused. And spend all my focus and energy on the national team. Because we need to create this culture about winning and we need to chase our aim. If we want to be good in one year’s time, we need to think that today is the most important day, because we need to build from today our way to arrive. It’s not to say, ‘OK, I wait, I wait, I wait. No, the World Cup is in one year. It’s in six months. It’s in one month.’ And then it’s late.
“That is why I think it’s important to have (a) different approach. And for us, I think we learned a lot in the last few camps, for sure in March. And I think it is about maybe using a different way to approach this. These opportunities are amazing. We are so motivated, so excited. That is why I am full of energy. We are full of energy working in trying to create a good group that we can feel proud (of).”
After a string of bad results in major competitions, it’s clear something different is needed. If the result of the Gold Cup is that it injects a different and more competitive culture into this U.S. national team, then it will be an incredibly successful tournament.What You Should Read NextUSMNT frustrations boiling over as World Cup clock keeps on tickingExpectations of this U.S. group are growing, especially with a World Cup on home soil. So why does it feel like progress has been stunted?
(Top photo: John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
USMNT Gold Cup squad: Pulisic, Musah not the only high-profile absences
By Paul Tenorio
76
May 22, 2025
The U.S. will be without several regulars for this summer’s Gold Cup, including stars Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and Antonee Robinson.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino named a 27-man roster for camp ahead of this summer’s Gold Cup on Thursday. The U.S. will only be able to carry 26 players into the tournament, with Concacaf’s deadline to finalize the squad on June 4. The U.S. will play friendlies against Turkey and Switzerland before group games against Trinidad & Tobago, Saudi Arabia and Haiti.
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Pulisic and Robinson have been given the summer off after long seasons with AC Milan and Fulham, respectively. Robinson has been dealing with several injury issues, including tendinopathy, which caused him to miss the Concacaf Nations League finals in March. If Pulisic plays this weekend for AC Milan, it will be his 120th game for club and country in the past two years.
“Christian and his team approached the Federation and the coaching staff about the possibility of stepping back this summer, given the amount of matches he has played in the past two years at both the club and international level with very little break,” U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker said in a statement. “After thoughtful discussions and careful consideration, we made the collective decision that this is the right moment for him to get the rest he needs. The objective is to ensure he’s fully prepared to perform at the highest level next season.”
McKennie and Weah (Juventus) and Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund) will also miss the tournament due to commitments with their club teams, which are competing in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.
Other notable names not on the squad include midfielder Yunus Musah, who had an up-and-down season for Milan, and Josh Sargent, who scored 15 goals for Norwich this season in the English Championship.
The absence of so many notable players means the U.S. will go into the summer’s tournament with a mix of players considered to be first-choice regulars, as well as more than a few players trying to break into the squad ahead of next summer’s World Cup.
Despite all of the omissions, there are some positive developments within this team.
USMNT right back Sergiño Dest is back in the mix ahead of the Concacaf Gold Cup. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Sergiño Dest is back after tearing his ACL in April 2024, a welcome return for one of the USMNT’s best players. Several others who missed the Nations League through injury — Johnny Cardoso, Malik Tillman and Folarin Balogun — are also back in the rotation.
World Cup veterans Tyler Adams, Matt Turner, Tim Ream, Luca de la Torre, Brenden Aaronson and Haji Wright are also in the team, while veteran center backs Mark McKenzie, Miles Robinson and Chris Richards bolster the defensive options.
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Among the notable new names in the mix: Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, the son of former U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter; Orlando City right back Alex Freeman, the son of NFL Super Bowl winner Antonio Freeman; Philadelphia Union attacking midfielder Quinn Sullivan; and German-American striker Damion Downs, a 20-year-old who had 10 goals for Koln in the 2. Bundesliga as the club earned promotion to Germany’s top flight.
Interestingly, Pochettino opted for MLS-based strikers Patrick Agyemang and Brian White over Sargent, who started multiple games for the U.S. at the 2022 World Cup. Diego Luna, a standout at the Nations League, will also get another opportunity to make his case for inclusion in the World Cup squad.
The full roster is below:
GOALKEEPERS: Matt Freese (New York City FC), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace)
DEFENDERS: Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Alex Freeman (Orlando City), DeJuan Jones (San Jose Earthquakes), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati)
MIDFIELDERS: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven), Sean Zawadzki (Columbus Crew)
FORWARDS: Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC), Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Damion Downs (FC Köln), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps), Haji Wright (Coventry City)
Christian Pulisic missing Gold Cup: Bad look for the player, bad break for USMNT
By Paul Tenorio
116
May 21, 2025
Christian Pulisic has long been the tone-setting player on this U.S. men’s national team, a leader by example who has been counted on in the program’s biggest moments.
With just more than a year left to prepare for the World Cup, however, the U.S. will have to work its way out of a major slump without its most important player.
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Pulisic will not be a part of the U.S.’s Gold Cup roster, sources confirmed to The Athletic on Wednesday night. The news was first reported by Fox Sports. The 26-year-old winger seemingly wants a break after a long season with AC Milan. He has nursed and played through several slight injuries over the course of the Serie A campaign. The hope is that resting Pulisic in the Gold Cup will give him a better chance at being healthy for next season and, by extension, next summer’s World Cup.
All of that may be true and valid. The demand of an increasingly grueling calendar on players is as under the microscope as ever, and we won’t hear the official reasons for Pulisic’s absence until U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino speaks Thursday.
But it is still a bad look for the player and a bad break for this U.S. team that its best player and face of the program is missing this tournament.
The U.S. is in the midst of a major tailspin. It was knocked out in the group stage at the Copa América last summer and then dumped in the semifinals of the Nations League by Panama in March before losing the third-place game to Canada.
Vibes around this group are alarmingly low. The Gold Cup was meant to be a potential salve to the culture within the team, and the faith of the fanbase around it. Ahead of a home World Cup, it took on even more importance.
It is also the first time Pochettino will get more than a short international window with his Europe-based players. That has real value for a new coach trying not just to instill a system, but also heal the internal mindset and attitude. Pulisic himself called on Pochettino to do that last September.
“Hopefully, he’s someone that’s going to come in and really change the culture around here,” Pulisic said at the time.
Now, Pulisic appears to be opting out of that chance at a cultural reset this summer.
Christian Pulisic will be a spectator for this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup. (Photo by Shaun Clark/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
The U.S. was already weakened by the FIFA Club World Cup this summer. Weston McKennie and Tim Weah, two regular USMNT starters, will be participating in that tournament with Juventus and won’t be with the U.S. Gio Reyna, once an enticing prospect, is struggling for minutes at the club level, but will be with Borussia Dortmund for the Club World Cup, as well.
Yunus Musah, Pulisic’s Milan teammate, will also miss the tournament, sources told The Athletic, meaning the U.S. will be without five players from its supposed “golden generation” this summer.
That doesn’t mean the group will be entirely decimated. Several key players are still expected to be a part of the squad. Left back Antonee Robinson, right back Sergiño Dest, forward Folarin Balogun and midfielders Johnny Cardoso and Malik Tillman, all of whom missed the Nations League debacle, were on the 60-man preliminary roster and are expected to make the squad.
World Cup captain Tyler Adams should also be there, as well as FA Cup winner Chris Richards.
The absence of those other key figures means opportunities could be opened up for players who are trying to make an impression and whose hunger could help this team. The preliminary list included the likes of Diego Luna, a standout at Nations League, and Brenden Aaronson and Alejandro Zendejas, who missed the previous squad and will want to prove a point. (Though Zendejas would not be available if Club America qualifies for the Club World Cup at the end of the month.)
A wildcard may even be able to slip in there if they get a look.
The positive spin on this situation is that the void left behind by one player opens a window for another. But the reality is that there is no replacement for Pulisic. The 2026 World Cup has been touted for some time as a transformative moment for the sport in this country. Pulisic is undeniably the most famous American on the national team. The responsibility that comes with that fame is enormous. For some fans, Pulisic is the national team.
His absence, particularly at this time, hits differently.
When Pochettino was hired last September, he was supposed to be a stabilizer. His sterling resume and global recognition was meant to calm some of the diehard fans that were turning on the program and blaming former coach Gregg Berhalter for all that was going wrong.
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One of the benefits of Pochettino’s hire was that it would turn the pressure back onto the players. That has certainly proved to be true. The Nations League was eye-opening. The team looked disinterested. Fans and alumni started to call out a group they felt was complacent and entitled. At the time, Pochettino preached patience.
“I don’t want the people to feel pessimistic,” he said. “Disappointed? Disappointed, we are all. And the fans need to feel the disappointment that we didn’t win. But I don’t want to allow (them) to feel pessimistic, because we have good players. We are going to find a way to perform.”
Since the 2022 World Cup, Pulisic has been one of the few American players that has taken steps forward in his game. He’s become counted on to deliver week-in and week-out at AC Milan, and has mostly done so. Out of any of the so-called “golden generation,” the winger’s play and desire to produce for the U.S. has been evident.
“This team is everything to me,” Pulisic said on Paramount+ after the Nations League losses. “I care so much for this team, for this country. I hope people know that about me. It’s truly an honor to lead this country.”https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHkElrsM6Km/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com&rp=%2Fathletic%2F6373974%2F2025%2F05%2F21%2Fchristian-pulisic-out-gold-cup-usmnt-impact-pochettino%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A2312.3000000000466%2C%22ls%22%3A778.8000000000466%2C%22le%22%3A1283.8000000000466%7D
It’s hard to argue that his absence from this tournament a year out from the World Cup doesn’t speak just as loudly, though.
One can’t help but think back to something Pochettino said the day he was introduced as the U.S. coach. Asked about the lack of meaningful competitive games before the World Cup, Pochettino pushed back on that notion.
“When I was a player with Argentina, Copa America, World Cup or friendly, it was the same,” he said. “To show that you are the best and win the game for your country, for your pride and everything. Because that is what it means to be competitive. We are going to be focusing on that.”
This Gold Cup was already going to be a test on that competitiveness and desire. That one of its leaders won’t be there is a rough start to the evaluation.
The Ole BallCoach 