Gold Cup absences worst-case scenario for U.S. World Cup hopes

Taveras' clutch two-run homer aids comeback victory: 'That's what we do'

[{"selector":"#anim-ed40451a-17a8-4c4e-b6b2-d1f91abadb90","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7cd18394-ecaa-4282-93f7-4e484089776e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-119.35484%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-55e144e8-53d6-499d-83e7-c6fd8a05245d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] After Nations League and Copa América failures, the USMNT's hopes rested on the 2025 Gold Cup and more time under Mauricio Pochettino. Learn More Arrow

[{"selector":"#anim-b3038817-c5ee-43ac-a6f3-e7154c86e0ec","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2bc58e15-6c3d-443b-86c0-16359c7cfd0a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-342b6992-3c7c-4502-82a2-ee4cd2c47691","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-119.35484%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] But things worsened: Pochettino’s Gold Cup prep suffered massive setbacks, starting with Christian Pulisic missing out due to fatigue and injuries. Learn More Arrow

[{"selector":"#anim-f271886e-5f56-4e97-9550-ced6ec97b481","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-957f40d9-8e35-4e9b-ab66-88dceea8a9b9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aead7e2d-909a-49b4-9b47-e6b1b4f6615f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-119.35484%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] AC Milan’s Musah, Fulham’s Robinson, and Juventus’ McKennie and Weah are also out, as is Gio Reyna — all due to injury or club obligations. Learn More Arrow

[{"selector":"#anim-338a1663-9d18-4b93-870c-f3092a47ff58","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a3368f65-ae5e-429b-adfc-e8ac4ea7d6e2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7e1af64b-e12e-48fb-9397-4820423ad593","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.41936%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] U.S. Soccer backed Pulisic’s absence, citing the need for rest after his heavy workload over the last two years with club and country. Learn More Arrow

[{"selector":"#anim-ba9f2f2c-eecf-4acc-97d4-cc85ef70d453","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b289b6f7-3cc4-421a-9913-c9242743acb5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-332275aa-b7d0-47e8-b69d-b83373256e69","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.41936%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The Club World Cup clash with the Gold Cup could also cost the team Johnny Cardoso, who’s linked with a summer move to Atlético Madrid. Learn More Arrow

[{"selector":"#anim-6b1e705f-1f00-40a5-a378-d740bfce8624","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ee0c964e-51e3-41e0-9bda-5d0d43114eae","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9ddb9121-f4fa-422a-a987-8fe128712642","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.41936%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The absences frustrate fans as stars prioritize clubs over country, fueling criticism of this generation’s national team commitment. Learn More Arrow

[{"selector":"#anim-c3c83842-f2fd-4353-a454-21186bf1e3ce","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e8ae0667-ac4e-43a8-8d4d-cfa796c10447","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-26a72a1f-25a4-4c38-a5aa-1a859bde5d31","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.41936%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Pochettino stressed he wants a culture of total focus: “If you want to play golf or visit friends, you’re not who we want in this camp.” Learn More Arrow

[{"selector":"#anim-782725cb-fabe-4e6f-a810-2c0353ab4987","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7dc410cf-1da7-4a97-967d-d2ea211b5137","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-46a2e741-66ff-4d7e-a347-7ccaaae9fd74","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.41936%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] With little time left before the World Cup, the Gold Cup was key — now it’s a scramble to prepare, with fringe players given a rare shot. Learn More Arrow

Taveras' clutch two-run homer aids comeback victory: 'That's what we do'

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