USMNT Faces Setbacks Ahead of Concacaf Gold Cup
Sergiño Dest, the defender for both PSV Eindhoven and the United States men’s national soccer team (USMNT), has been sidelined from participating in the upcoming Concacaf Gold Cup. This development was announced as U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino unveiled his squad for the tournament. Dest is not the only key player missing; both Christian Pulisic from AC Milan, due to fatigue, and Antonee Robinson of Fulham FC, recovering from knee surgery, are out. Additionally, Weston McKennie and Tim Weah of Juventus are unavailable because they will be competing at the Club World Cup.
Dest’s withdrawal adds further difficulties to Pochettino’s preparations. The right-back has only recently returned to the pitch after overcoming a torn ACL, featuring in seven matches this past season with a total of 375 minutes played. To address Dest’s condition, Pochettino indicated that the decision was made for him to engage in a tailored training regimen over the summer to ensure full recovery ahead of the next season.
New Faces and Optimism
Stepping in for Dest is John Tolkin, a defender currently with Holstein Kiel. Pochettino praised the expertise of his technical, medical, and performance teams, who conducted assessments on the players at training camp, which led to this decision.
The squad includes seasoned players such as Tyler Adams from Bournemouth, Matt Turner of Crystal Palace, and Chris Richards, also from Crystal Palace. Pochettino expressed optimism about the team’s chances, stating,
“We are extremely excited to work with this group of players and compete for the championship. Winning the tournament is our main goal, and we trust that these athletes will seize this chance.”
Despite previously naming a roster on May 22, injuries have limited options for the manager, forcing several more withdrawals including Columbus Crew’s Patrick Schulte and the Colorado Rapids’ Zack Steffen. This has led Pochettino to rely on several newcomers: defenders Alex Freeman and Quinn Sullivan, along with midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, who are all receiving their first call-ups. Freeman, notably, is the son of Antonio Freeman, a former NFL star.
Sebastian Berhalter has made waves with his contributions to the Vancouver Whitecaps, helping them advance in the Concacaf Champions Cup. Meanwhile, Damion Downs has dual nationality with Germany and the U.S., having spent his early years playing soccer in Texas before moving to Germany.
Historic Roster Features Sibling Duo
This roster also marks a milestone for sibling players, as Brenden and Paxten Aaronson, hailing from Medford, New Jersey, are the first brothers to appear on the same Gold Cup roster for the U.S. Their potential joint appearance could create a historic moment, being only the second instance of brothers taking to the field together in official international matches for the USMNT, a feat last achieved in 1957 by James and Russell Murphy.
Upcoming Matches and Competitions
In preparation for the Gold Cup, the USMNT will first engage in friendly matches against Turkey on June 7 in East Hartford, Connecticut, followed by a meeting with Switzerland in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 10. The tournament kicks off for the U.S. on June 15, against Trinidad and Tobago at PayPal Park in San Jose, California, followed by encounters with Saudi Arabia and Haiti in the group stage.
Complete Roster for the Gold Cup
GOALKEEPERS: Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace)
DEFENDERS: Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Alex Freeman (Orlando City), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), John Tolkin (Holstein Kiel), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)
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)
FORWARDS: Paxten Aaronson (FC Utrecht), Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC), Damion Downs (FC Köln), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps), Haji Wright (Coventry City).
