Pulisic and the U.S. Soccer Federation agreed that he would sit out this summer's Gold Cup 'to get the rest he needs'

Pulisic gave his first interview since opting to rest this summer, a decision that sparked fierce criticism and controversy, including from former USMNT players.

And while the USMNT was thoroughly embarrassed in its friendly against Switzerland, much of the discussion focused on the player who wasn't there: Christian Pulisic. Ever since the AC Milan star elected to skip the Gold Cup — the USMNT's only competitive tournament before the 2026 World Cup — the backlash had been impossible to ignore.