While the U.S. Men`s National Team prepares for the Concacaf Gold Cup, attention is focused on a key player who is not with the squad: Christian Pulisic. The attacking midfielder was left off both the pre-tournament friendly roster and the final Gold Cup squad. This decision was a mutual agreement between Pulisic and the USMNT staff, made to allow him crucial time off after a demanding 2024-25 season where he played 57 matches for club and country. This summer break is his last significant chance to recover before the next club season and the preparations for the 2026 World Cup begin.
Although the decision had been generally accepted for weeks, retired USMNT star Landon Donovan publicly voiced his disagreement over the weekend. His comments initiated a dispute involving Pulisic`s father, Mark. The incident has since prompted numerous reactions from within the American soccer community, adding a layer of distraction as the US team enters the final year before co-hosting the World Cup.
Here is a breakdown of the controversy between Donovan and Pulisic regarding his Gold Cup absence.
Why Pulisic is Skipping the Gold Cup
Pulisic`s exclusion from the summer tournament was announced on May 22nd. He was one of several notable players missing for various reasons, including workload, injuries, or club commitments. U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker clarified that Pulisic`s absence was a joint decision based on his extensive playing time over the past two seasons (100 games for AC Milan, over 7,000 minutes, plus 14 national team games in 2024 and 2025).
Crocker explained in a statement: “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… After thoughtful discussions… 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.” The USMNT coach echoed this, confirming the decision was made with the player`s long-term health and readiness for future crucial tournaments, including the World Cup, in mind.
Landon Donovan`s Criticism
On June 8th, during a broadcast of the UEFA Nations League final, Landon Donovan compared Portugal`s Cristiano Ronaldo`s dedication to that of some USMNT players. While not naming anyone directly, his comments were widely interpreted as aimed at Pulisic.
Donovan stated:
“This is what it means to represent your country… And if you don`t want to take this as a professional soccer player, as someone who gets the opportunity to wear that jersey and take it seriously and responsibly, then don`t come in… I can`t help but think about some of our guys on vacation, not wanting to play in the Gold Cup. It`s pissing me off.”
Mark Pulisic`s Response
Shortly after Donovan`s remarks, Christian Pulisic`s father, Mark Pulisic, posted a pointed response on Instagram. He shared a screenshot from ChatGPT explaining Landon Donovan`s own sabbatical from 2012 to 2013, which was taken due to “physical and mental exhaustion.”
Mark Pulisic`s caption challenged Donovan:
“This guy is talking about commitment. Look in the mirror + grow a pair and call names out, or are you afraid? Next time you want an interview, you will get rejected again.”
Christian Pulisic showed support by liking his father`s post and later posted a picture of himself relaxing, captioned, “Just what the Dr. ordered.”
Reactions from the American Soccer Community
Donovan`s comments have ignited debate among figures in American soccer. Eddie Johnson, Donovan`s teammate at the 2006 World Cup, was critical on Instagram, arguing that Pulisic`s commitment shouldn`t be questioned given his significantly higher workload and travel demands compared to an MLS career.
Clint Dempsey, another former USMNT player with extensive European experience, spoke about the challenges of balancing club and national team duties on his podcast. While acknowledging his own preference for always playing tournaments, Dempsey also appeared to question Donovan`s earlier sabbatical, using an analogy about players “showing up when it`s time to eat” after others had done the “grinding” during difficult periods.
Pulisic`s Teammates Offer Support
Christian Pulisic`s current teammates have also publicly supported his decision and downplayed the controversy. Weston McKennie emphasized the importance of player health, stating that if a player isn`t 100% fit and risks injury, resting is the right decision to allow another fully fit player to contribute.
Tyler Adams labeled the external debate as simply “noise.” He stated that the team is not discussing it internally and is focused solely on their preparation for the upcoming Gold Cup competition.
