Manager Releases Preliminary Gold Cup Roster for Final Test Before World Cup
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino unveiled his 60-player preliminary roster for this summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup, marking the team's final competitive tournament before co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The extensive list features both established stars and intriguing newcomers as Pochettino looks to reshape the squad following disappointing performances in the Nations League.
Christian Pulisic headlines the roster after enjoying a career-best season with AC Milan, scoring 17 goals with one game remaining. The star winger hasn't featured in a Gold Cup since 2019, signaling Pochettino's intent to field a strong team in this crucial preparatory tournament. Pulisic is joined by fellow European-based talents including Tyler Adams, Antonee Robinson, Yunus Musah, and FA Cup winner Chris Richards.
Several regular starters are unavailable due to the concurrent FIFA Club World Cup, with Juventus teammates Weston McKennie and Tim Weah, plus Borussia Dortmund's Gio Reyna, all absent as their clubs have priority for the expanded competition. Ricardo Pepi will also miss out as he continues rehabilitation from his serious knee injury.
Pochettino's roster includes several intriguing newcomers and returning faces. Sebastian Berhalter, son of former USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter, earned his spot after an outstanding season with the Vancouver Whitecaps. Richy Ledezma returns to the fold despite previously not making the Nations League roster and remains eligible to represent Mexico. Another notable inclusion is German-American forward Damion Downs.
In goal, veterans Matt Turner and Zack Steffen are joined by uncapped prospects Chris Brady, Matthew Freese, and Barcelona youngster Diego Kochen, suggesting potential competition for the starting position.
The final 26-man roster must be submitted to CONCACAF by June 4. The Americans will prepare with friendlies against Türkiye and Switzerland in early June before beginning their Gold Cup campaign against Trinidad and Tobago on June 15 in San Jose, California. The tournament represents Pochettino's best opportunity to implement changes before the World Cup and pursue his first trophy with the national team since taking charge.
Midfielder's Key Role in Juventus' Champions League Push Cut Short by Injury
Weston McKennie delivered another industrious performance in Juventus' crucial 2-0 victory over Udinese at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday. However, his contribution was unfortunately cut short by a concerning injury in the closing stages of the match.
The American midfielder was central to Igor Tudor's game plan, helping the Bianconeri control possession and dictate the tempo throughout the contest. McKennie's box-to-box presence was evident as he registered two shots, created three scoring chances, and made two critical interceptions before his forced departure in the 81st minute.
While Nico Gonzalez and Dusan Vlahovic grabbed the headlines with their goals, McKennie's work in midfield provided the platform for Juventus to maintain pressure throughout the match, particularly during a dominant second half.
The midfielder's afternoon took an unfortunate turn in the 76th minute when Udinese defender Thomas Thiesson Kristensen clattered into him with a late challenge that earned the defender a yellow card. Medical staff immediately attended to McKennie, who appeared to be in significant discomfort as trainers examined his right knee. Though he initially tried to continue, the American soon signaled he could not carry on and was replaced by Douglas Luiz.
The timing of the injury raises concerns for both Juventus and McKennie personally. The Bianconeri face a season-defining finale against Venezia next Sunday, where a win would secure Champions League qualification. McKennie's status for this crucial match now appears doubtful.
The injury also casts a shadow over McKennie's summer plans. While he was notably absent from the USMNT's preliminary Gold Cup roster announced Monday, he was expected to play a significant role in Juventus' Club World Cup campaign beginning June 18 against Al Ain. With Khephren Thuram, Nicolo Savona, and Pierre Kalulu all returning from suspension for the Venezia match, Tudor will have reinforcements available should McKennie be unavailable for the season finale.
American Stars Richards and Turner Celebrate Historic FA Cup Victory with Crystal Palace
In a historic moment for Crystal Palace and American soccer, defender Chris Richards and goalkeeper Matt Turner became part of FA Cup lore as the Eagles captured their first major trophy in the club's 120-year history with a stunning 1-0 victory over Manchester City at Wembley Stadium.
Richards played a crucial role in Palace's rock-solid defense that conceded just one goal throughout their entire FA Cup campaign. The Alabama native's commanding presence helped neutralize City's formidable attack led by Erling Haaland, as Palace executed manager Oliver Glasner's counter-attacking strategy to perfection.
"It means a lot," Richards told ESPN after the match. "Growing up, I never watched the FA Cup. I'm from Alabama, so we definitely didn't have that on TV. Being able to not just do it for Americans, but also for the kids back home who have a dream of playing over here—it means the world to me."
While Turner was an unused substitute behind hero Dean Henderson, who dramatically saved Omar Marmoush's penalty after a controversial handball incident, the American goalkeeper became just the third U.S. player to earn an FA Cup winner's medal, joining Richards and Manchester United's Tim Howard (2004).
The victory was delightful for Richards, who overcame early-season struggles to cement himself as a key defender in Palace's backline. "I think we had a tough start to the season, but we turned it around pretty quickly and fully deserved it," Richards said amid the celebrations.
The American duo was ecstatic about bringing European football to Selhurst Park next season, with Palace qualifying for the Europa League as FA Cup champions. "We brought this club to where it deserves, and these fans deserve Europe," Turner remarked, while Richards admitted he hadn't even considered European qualification: "I wasn't even thinking about Europe! I just wanted to win a trophy."
With this triumph, Richards and Turner now turn their attention to summer international duty, hoping to continue their winning ways with the U.S. Men's National Team at the upcoming Gold Cup.
American Stars Help PSV Clinch Dramatic Eredivisie Title
In a thrilling conclusion to the Dutch Eredivisie season, PSV Eindhoven captured their 26th league championship with a tense 3-1 victory over Sparta Rotterdam, successfully holding off a late-season challenge from rivals Ajax. U.S. Men's National Team stars played pivotal roles in the triumph, with Malik Tillman scoring the decisive goal and Sergino Dest completing a remarkable comeback from injury to contribute to the title-clinching victory.
The dramatic final day saw PSV enter just one point ahead of Ajax, making a win imperative to secure the championship. When Sparta Rotterdam equalized early in the second half, momentum momentarily shifted to Ajax, who briefly claimed the virtual top spot. However, veteran striker Luuk de Jong quickly restored PSV's lead, and it was Tillman who sealed the championship with a well-timed run into the box to convert a headed pass from Guus Til.
The goal marked Tillman's 15th of the season across all competitions, capping off an outstanding campaign for the 22-year-old American midfielder, who also contributed five assists. His performance throughout the season has generated significant transfer interest, with reports suggesting PSV has placed a €50 million price tag on the talented playmaker, who has attracted attention from Premier League clubs and Serie A's Atalanta.
Dest's contribution was equally remarkable, as the right back played the full 90 minutes of the title-clinching match. His appearance completed an inspiring comeback story after suffering an ACL tear earlier in the season. Dest returned to action in March and featured in seven crucial matches during PSV's championship run.
Fellow American Ricardo Pepi, though sidelined since January with a knee injury, was very much part of the celebration. The striker had made significant contributions before his injury, scoring 17 goals in 28 appearances across all competitions.
Under manager Peter Bosz, PSV completed a remarkable turnaround in the title race. Ajax had built a nine-point lead with just seven games remaining in the season, only to collapse spectacularly while PSV won their final seven matches. The championship ensures PSV will return to the UEFA Champions League next season, a fitting reward for a campaign that showcased both resilience and the growing influence of American talent in European football.
On This Day in 1985, The US Took Critical Steps Toward the World Cup with Consecutive Wins Over Trinidad and Tobago
For thirty-five years, American soccer had wandered in the wilderness. Since 1950, when a ragtag group of semi-professionals shocked mighty England in Brazil, the United States had not qualified for soccer's grandest tournament. Through decades of failed campaigns and diminishing hopes, the World Cup remained a distant dream for a nation where the beautiful game struggled for relevance. By 1985, with professional outdoor soccer leagues collapsing and the indoor game dominating what little soccer infrastructure existed, the drought had become more than a statistic—it was a painful reminder of America's isolation from the global game.
But in May 1985, a flicker of hope emerged on the long road to Mexico '86. The United States Men's National Team, assembled from scattered indoor leagues and college programs, found itself with a precious opportunity to change the narrative. Coach Alkis Panagoulias, a Greek tactician tasked with the seemingly impossible job of qualifying from the competitive CONCACAF region, knew what was at stake: "The whole future of outdoor soccer in America rests with our World Cup team," he declared. "If we fail, I feel outdoor soccer is doomed."
The Americans had navigated through the preliminary rounds of CONCACAF qualifying to reach this critical second-round group featuring Trinidad and Tobago and Costa Rica. With the format sending only the group winner forward to face Honduras and Canada in the final qualifying round, the stakes could not have been higher for coach Alkis Panagoulias and his squad assembled from indoor and outdoor leagues across the country.
The qualifying series against Trinidad and Tobago began on May 15 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, where 15,823 fans gathered to witness a contest that lacked the electric atmosphere characteristic of World Cup qualifiers in many nations. Despite the subdued environment, the match would produce a dramatic conclusion that rekindled hope for American soccer.
Trinidad and Tobago shocked the crowd early, taking the lead 18 minutes and 41 seconds into the match. The sequence began when Erhardt Kapp's pass was intercepted during an American attack, leading to a swift counter. Julian Garcia picked off the errant pass and launched a long ball toward Adrian Fonrose. American stopper Jeff Durgan leaped but failed to intercept, allowing Fonrose to collect the ball and chip it over goalkeeper David Brcic, a St. Louis native making his start on home soil.
The Americans responded quickly, equalizing just five minutes later. Chico Borja found the net after 23 minutes and 20 seconds, converting a cross from Hugo Perez, who had received a precise long pass from Perry Van Der Beck on the right wing. Borja beat Trinidad goalkeeper Michael Maurice under the roof of the net, bringing the home crowd back to life. As the match progressed into the second half, Trinidad and Tobago's strategy of catching the Americans in offside positions repeatedly frustrated the hosts. The most significant chance came in the 74th minute when Kelvin Jones cleared Borja's shot off the goal line, preserving the deadlock.
With the match seemingly destined for a draw, Mark Peterson delivered a moment of magic with just 1 minute and 40 seconds remaining. The Tacoma, Washington native volleyed a right-footed shot from 18 yards after receiving a pass from Erhardt Kapp on the left side. Though Maurice got his hands on the relatively weak shot, the ball slipped through his grasp, struck the inside of the right post, and trickled across the line.
"It's always been my dream to score a goal in a World Cup game," Peterson said afterward. "When it proves to be the winning goal, it means so much more. Erhardt gave me a good pass, and I just volleyed it."
The dramatic victory gave the United States a crucial advantage in its qualifying campaign. Still, with a second match against Trinidad and Tobago looming just four days later, Panagoulias knew his team would need to be sharper.
The scene shifted to El Camino College in Torrance, California, on May 19, where a disappointingly small crowd of just 6,511 gathered to witness the second leg of the qualifying series. Trinidad and Tobago, now mathematically eliminated from advancing after a loss and a draw to Costa Rica in late April, were playing for "national pride," according to coach Roderick Warner. The visitors also had additional motivation—they felt robbed of a penalty decision in the first match and were disappointed that financial difficulties had forced their federation to sell their home game to the United States for a reported $40,000.
Panagoulias made several strategic adjustments to his lineup, replacing defenders Jeff Durgan and Kapp and midfielder Charlie Fajkus. In their places came UCLA's Paul Caligiuri and 19-year-old Mike Windischmann on defense, while Van der Beck moved from defense to midfield, replaced in the back by Gregg Thompson.
The changes paid dividends just 15 minutes into the match. After a period of early American pressure, Thompson played a short corner to Van Der Beck, who floated a crossing pass into the goalmouth. Moving forward from his defensive position, Caligiuri escaped his marker and rose to meet the ball with a sharp header that caught Trinidad goalkeeper Michael Maurice slightly out of position. Despite a desperate dive, Maurice could not prevent the ball from finding the far corner.
"You have to be prepared when the chances present themselves, no matter what your position," Caligiuri said afterward. "Perry hit a great, great cross."
The goal was significant for Caligiuri, coming in his first World Cup qualifying start in his hometown. Though he had appeared as a substitute in the St. Louis match, this was his moment to shine before a home crowd.
The Americans could not extend their lead despite creating half a dozen clear scoring opportunities. Trinidad and Tobago's Maurice played brilliantly in goal, repeatedly frustrating the U.S. forwards with exceptional saves throughout the second half. The Americans even squandered a penalty kick late in the match when Perez failed to convert after Ricky Davis was brought down in the penalty area.
At the other end, U.S. goalkeeper Arnold Mausser, who replaced David Brcic from the first match, was called upon to make one crucial save. "I had it all the way," Mausser said after flinging himself to his right to grab a dangerous header from Trinidad's Garnet Craig. "I was very comfortable with it. I got two hands on it, so I knew I was in good shape."
Though the Americans prevailed 1-0, Trinidad and Tobago's coach Warner offered a sobering assessment: "I was not particularly impressed by the USA. Please respect my frankness, but they are not World Cup material."
With the back-to-back victories, the United States moved to the top of their qualifying group with four points from two matches, putting them in a prime position to advance to the final qualifying round. Costa Rica, with three points, remained close behind.
The Americans now faced a crucial home-and-away series against Costa Rica—first in San Jose, Costa Rica, on May 26, and then back in Los Angeles on May 31. A victory in either match would secure the Americans' place in the September final qualifying round against Canada and Honduras.
For a nation that had failed to qualify for the World Cup since 1950, these matches represented more than just games. As Panagoulias dramatically stated after the first win: "We performed a miracle tonight. We have no outdoor soccer. The only outdoor team we have is our national team. The whole future of outdoor soccer in America rests with our World Cup team. If we fail, I feel outdoor soccer is doomed."
The stakes could not have been higher for American soccer, a sport fighting for relevance in a crowded sports landscape. With professional outdoor leagues struggling for survival, the national team's World Cup qualifying campaign carried the hopes of an entire sport on its shoulders. As the team prepared for the decisive matches against Costa Rica, the players understood that the journey to Mexico '86 was far from over. But for now, the dream remained very much alive on the strength of Peterson's dramatic winner in St. Louis and Caligiuri's header in Torrance.
