The U.S. will take the field Sunday evening as strong favorites to win their group opener. Historically, they have been one of the most successful teams in Gold Cup history, trailing only Mexico in total titles. Alongside Canada, they are one of only three nations to have lifted the trophy since its rebranding in 1991.

Mexico, meanwhile, enter the tournament with seven Gold Cup titles to their name and will be pushing for an eighth. However, they also face key absences, including players who feature prominently in top European leagues. Among them is Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie, a regular starter for both club and country who will miss this year’s competition.

Why is Weston McKennie not playing for the USA?

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino was forced to leave several core players off the squad during roster selection. In addition to the long-expected absence of Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Timothy Weah, and Giovanni Reyna are also unavailable. As a result, the Stars and Stripes will be without several of their most experienced and technically gifted contributors.

McKennie’s absence is directly tied to Juventus’ involvement in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which overlaps with the Gold Cup. The same is true for Timothy Weah, who also plays for the Italian club. Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund’s participation in the Club World Cup explains why Gio Reyna will also be missing from the U.S. squad this summer.

Other key absences add to concerns

The list of unavailable players doesn’t end there. Christian Pulisic will also sit out the tournament, reportedly due to personal reasons. According to team sources, the decision was made jointly by the player and the coaching staff, allowing the AC Milan winger to rest after a demanding club season in Italy.

Right back Sergiño Dest is another notable omission. He has been sidelined for months after suffering a torn ACL and is not expected to be fit in time for international duty. Given his lack of match fitness and recovery timeline, Dest was not considered for the final squad by the coaching staff.

In a strategic move, Pochettino has also opted to build the roster around domestic talent and rising stars, excluding those playing outside Major League Soccer or top European leagues. As a result, players like Cade Cowell and Alejandro Zendejas were left off the final list, signaling a shift in the U.S. approach to squad development for this tournament.

The call-ups come as Pochettino will finally coach his first two games in charge of the team against Panama at home on October 12 and a unique fixture for Mexico, as they will play a friendly match at home against the USMNT on October 15th.

We break down Pochettino’s first roster, noting some well-deserved returns to the US, as well as shocks and omissions. Overall, the roster is everything we have seen before; the question is, can Pochettino make it work where Gregg Berhalter could not in his second stint?

USMNT: Mauricio Pochettino Plays It Safe

Mauricio Pochettino did not want to get too creative. The USMNT is in desperate need of a good performance and some moral wins, so possibly some omissions were left home. The biggest surprise is again in goal, which sees the return of Zack Steffen. Who will rise to claim the starting position in goal for these games remains a mystery, as goalkeeping on the USMNT has been weak for some time now.

Marlon Fossey, who impressed last camp, is back, while Gianluca Busio gets a well-deserved call-up after good play for his club Venezia in Italy. Josh Sargent, who has been injured mostly when national team duty arrives, will be a player to watch with his impressive form with Norwich City in England.

In regard to second chances, Pochettino has called back underperformers Ethan Horvath, Matt Turner, Miles Robinson, Brenden Aaronson, Yunus Musah, and Malik Tillman, some of whom are getting what could be a final chance with the team.

Important omissions include Cameron Carter-Vickers, who picked up an injury; goalkeepers Diego Kochen and Gabriel Slonina, who were left off in favor of more experienced but disappointing choices; and Giovanni Reyna, who is also injured.

Diego Luna, who is by far one of the more interesting young talents in MLS, continues to get snubbed from the senior team, as does Tanner Tessmann, who is still adapting to life at Lyon. Winger Rokas Pukštas has also been left home despite interest from top clubs in the American playing in Croatia.

Full USMNT Roster

GOALKEEPERS (4): Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City/WAL; 9/0), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; 2/0), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids; 29/0), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace/ENG; 45/0)

DEFENDERS (8): Marlon Fossey (Standard Liege; 1/0), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo/ITA; 5/0), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/FRA; 14/0), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; 62/1), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 46/4), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 29/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach/GER; 12/0), Auston Trusty (Celtic/SCO; 2/0)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/ENG; 44/8), Gianluca Busio (Venezia/ITA; 13/1), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis/ESP; 17/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 56/11), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough/ENG; 7/0), Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA; 41/0), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 14/0)

FORWARDS (6): Folarin Balogun (Monaco/FRA; 17/5), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven; 30/10), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA; 73/31), Josh Sargent (Norwich City/ENG; 25/5), Timothy Weah (Juventus/ITA; 41/6), Haji Wright (Coventry City/ENG; 13/4)

Now under new manager Thiago Motta, who did not assign McKennie a squad number at the start of the season, it will be interesting to see where the USMNT star fits into Motta’s new 4-2-3-1 formation.

McKennie faced a similar situation last season but managed to regain his starting position and became one of Juventus’ leading assist providers.

Details of Weston McKennie’s Juventus Contract

According to Tom Bogert, Weston McKennie signed a one-year extension with the club, keeping him at Juventus until June 2026. McKennie reportedly sought an annual salary of 5 million euros, but Bogert reported that the American accepted the same salary (reported 3M Euros) to extend his contract.

While Weston McKennie and Juventus are now back on good terms, both parties seem to have a clear objective: to get McKennie playing and possibly look for a move later on. Juventus has always seen value in McKennie for a potential transfer, but despite inquiries from other clubs, a transfer has never materialized.

Bogert also reported that FC Cincinnati of MLS expressed significant interest in McKennie. However, despite a summer courtship between the club and player, McKennie ultimately chose to stay in Europe.

Juventus had been looking to “cash in” on McKennie, particularly since contract renewal talks had stalled late last season. The American was reportedly seeking a significant salary increase, from around €3 million to €5 million annually.

Even though he is in the final year of his contract and transfer talks have cooled, both Juventus and McKennie are now reportedly open to discussing new terms for a longer commitment. This development could potentially see McKennie reintegrated into the Juventus first team.

Is Weston McKennie back at Juventus?

According to Matteo Moretto, discussions between McKennie and Juventus have resumed, which may lead the team to reassess their stance on the box-to-box midfielder.

McKennie has demonstrated his capability at the high level required by Juventus. Over four seasons with the club, he has played 134 games, scored 13 goals, and provided 15 assists. He has also won three domestic cups with Juventus.

Weston McKennie’s current contract with Juventus is set to expire in June 2025.

AC Milan and Juventus feature three main players of the USMNT, with Christian Pulisic turning into a real star of the Italian Serie A after an excellent breakout season for the Rossoneri.

Below are the six American players who will be playing in Serie A. We list six because it could also be seven, but Weston McKennie’s situation is still unknown.

Americans in Serie A

AC Milan features two of the best USMNT players currently. Christian Pulisic will either play down the middle or on the wings for AC Milan. Yunus Musah could upgrade to a more consistent starting position rather than a role player after a good preseason.

Over at Como, who were recently promoted, striker Nicholas Gioacchini will be coming off the bench. Meanwhile, at Venezia, the progression of Gianluca Busio will be fun to watch as the midfielder has great passing and shot-taking capabilities.

Tim Weah seems to be in the plans at Juventus, but can he gain a more prominent starting role for the club? Weston McKennie has offers from Fiorentina and possible destinations in Germany, so it’s still up in the air whether he will stay this season.

Tanner Tessmann is also a player who might move from Venezia, but all signs point to another team in Italy, given the midfielder’s interest from Inter Milan and Fiorentina.

For several years, two players have shattered every record imaginable, generating both admirers and critics. They have created a true football divide and sparked a new debate on who is the new GOAT: Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi?

Many professional players publicly declare their support for one or the other in this debate. Often, those who have played alongside both the Portuguese and the Argentine tend to lean toward one side or the other.

During the 2020-21 season, one of the stars of the USMNT played alongside CR7 in Juventus. Over the course of that year, they developed a strong bond, which is why, when asked in an interview whether he considered Ronaldo or Messi the greatest of all time, he didn’t hesitate to respond.

The player in question is none other than Weston McKennie, who played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus. It was during that year that the American was amazed by every training session and match he shared with the Portuguese forward.

Weston McKennie’s top 5 choices

In addition to choosing his former Portuguese teammate over the Argentine star, Weston McKennie made four other decisions about player selections in an interview with @GoalUSA.

Another interesting detail is that when asked whether he would choose Vinicius Jr or Kylian Mbappe, the American player opted for the Brazilian, leaving the new Real Madrid superstar behind.

What’s next for Weston McKennie?

The American player is entering the final year of his contract with the Turin team and is awaiting his future once it concludes. While he has been linked with moves to both Premier League and MLS teams, his destination remains uncertain, and he is focused on preparing for the upcoming Serie A season.

It’s a sad end considering McKennie had a career season for Juventus in 2023/24, setting an all-time high with 7 assists. In his four seasons at the club, McKennie recorded 104 Serie A appearances, 9 goals, and 10 assists.

Juventus is looking to swap McKennie for Fiorentina‘s Argentine winger Nico Gonzalez, and according to Nicolò Schira, talks are positive, with the American reportedly greenlighting the deal. All that stands in the way is McKennie’s salary.

How Much Does Weston McKennie Want to Move to Fiorentina?

According to various reports, McKennie is seeking around 5 million euros per season, while his current Juventus salary is reported to be around 3 million euros. Nico Gonzalez wants approximately €3.6 million.

McKennie had a poor Copa America by his standards, and his comical and lighthearted demeanor internally has been frowned upon by Juventus management, although the American was regularly featured on the team’s social media channels.

When in form, McKennie is an intense box-to-box player who has had great success in Serie A and the German Bundesliga.

Reported initially by Matteo Moretto, not much information has been given, but the Relevo journalist stated that the Italian club wants both Americans.

Tanner Tessmann is currently with the USMNT Olympic side, while Weston McKennie is back at full training with Juventus preparing for the start of the Serie A season.

Weston McKennie

Juventus has reportedly been shopping Weston McKennie for some time. While those rumors seem a bit inflated, the American midfielder is coming off his best season in Serie A, playing very well as a setup man and truly finding his footing with the club.

In order for Weston McKennie to leave Juventus, a very good offer must come in. The USMNT star is currently holding contract talks with Juventus, but moving one of their assist leaders to Fiorentina looks farfetched.

Tanner Tessmann

Tessmann has been followed closely by Fiorentina, and after a move to Inter Milan fell through, La Viola could pounce. The American central midfielder is coming off a banner year in Serie B with Venezia and was one of the few bright spots in the US’s 3-0 loss to France in the Olympic games.

This summer, drama surrounds the Juventus midfielder regarding his future, as talks of a contract renewal with Juventus have stalled once again.

Juventus reportedly considered a solution involving a transfer and trade deal to bring Douglas Luiz to the club, but McKennie turned down a move to Aston Villa due to salary demands.

What kind of salary is Weston McKennie seeking?

According to Forza Juventus, McKennie is demanding an annual salary of 5 million euros, approximately two million more than his current earnings. Juventus is hesitant to meet McKennie’s salary demand, although the midfielder remains under contract until next season after an impressive campaign, finishing among the team’s top assist providers.

A surprising development emerged on Thursday: MLS club FC Cincinnati is reportedly willing to pay a $15 million transfer fee to acquire McKennie.

Additionally, there is speculation that Napoli, now managed by Antonio Conte, is interested in the American midfielder and could make a move.

Weston McKennie has a total of 10 assists in the campaign, 7 in Serie A, a stat which he leads for his team, and 3 in the Coppa Italia. Oddly, McKennie has not scored in the present campaign, a trait that was associated with the American especially when he first arrived at the club.

For Weston McKennie it has been a comeback season after a dismal spell at Leeds United, and without question Weston McKennie is Juventus’ comeback player of the season.

Weston McKennie stats in 2023/24

In Serie A, McKennie has played a total of 28 games this season with 7 assists, three more than Filip Kostić, four more than Dušan Vlahović (often the receiver of McKennie’s passes), and Adrien Rabiot.

Six of McKennie’s assists have come when he has played in the middle of the field, while one has come from him on the right. Despite going scoreless this season, McKennie has been one of Juventus most consistent and best players.

In total Weston McKennie has an impressive 13 goals and 15 assists in 126 games for Juventus. 9 goals and 10 assists in 98 Serie A, proving that Massimiliano Allegri was not wrong on what the American can bring to the table.

Weston McKennie’s contract talks

At the moment Weston McKennie is reportedly in talks to renew his contract at Juventus, his current deal is set to finalize in June of 2025 and the Italian Old Lady is trying to wrap up the American for the long term.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that Weston McKennie was offered a lower salary at Juventus, something that seems highly unlikely given that various players will move on at the end of the season and if Paul Pogba’s final appeal fails, the chances are his contract will be terminated by the club, leaving salary space to improve Weston McKennie’s deal.

Currently one of the highest performing players at the club according to FootMob, McKennie continues to be a driving force in the midfield with his abilities to track back and run forward, but the American has become much better technically and tactically for Massimiliano Allegri.

In an interview with 8by8mag, McKennie opened up about his time at Juventus, where he has a contract until 2025, and there are talks of an extension, his ill-fated move to Leeds United, and coming back better and stronger in Serie A.

Weston McKennie on leaving Juventus and going to Leeds

In a shocking response on his move to the Premier League the American revealed that going to Leeds was more about challenging himself than just leaving Juventus where he felt things had become too complacent.

“Every player can get a little bit complacent and comfortable with what they’re doing, I think going to Leeds and having the experience I had there, I may have let some people down. I may have let some fans down who supported Leeds and believed in me.”

McKennie made only 19 appearances in the Premier League for the ill-fated Leeds team, he was bashed on social media over his weight and his performances were sub-par, then again Leeds United was a mess most of the season as McKennie was exposed too often, he was not around the caliber of players he has at Juventus.

“At the end of the day, when I get older and it’s my time to go, how many of those people are going to be there with me?”

“When I left Leeds, I knew I had a bad showing,” he explains. “I knew I didn’t have the time that I thought I was going to have or that maybe I should have had. It put me in a mindset that when I came back here to Juventus, I was starting brand new. I’m going back to Juventus like it’s my first time. I have to prove myself all over again.”

Upon his return to Juventus in the summer the brass at the club sought a move for the American, but a champion of McKennie held firm and gave him a chance during preseason, that champion is his manager, Massimiliano Allegri.

By the time preseason was over, McKennie had once again won over Allegri. “Wes is maturing after his experience on loan. He has a physical strength that helps cover up for the occasional technical error, but when he runs into space he can be devastating”, Allegri stated back in November.

Weston McKennie on Italy

Now almost fluent in Italian, the Fort Lewis, Washington native has played professional soccer in three of the world’s top leagues, Germany, England, and Italy. Still McKennie gets egged by his teammates and media for his unique way of eating a traditional Italian pasta dish.

“I love Italy,” he says. “It’s a beautiful place. I love the people. But obviously Italy is very big on tradition, and anyone that’s outside of that is looked on as ‘Oh my God.’ If I go out in public wearing some sweats and some slides, a hoodie that doesn’t match, people look at me like, ‘What are you doing?’

“With the food, it’s whenever I put chicken inside my pasta, when I put pesto pomodoro and then put a little chicken inside with spicy olive oil, cheese, and salt. It’s funny, because all the non-Italian people here love it and eat it, then all the Italian people look at you like, ‘Ooh, ma che schifo!’” — “How gross!”

Full interview here.