USMNT Shocks with Game-Changing Christian Pulisic Move for November Camp—Report
The United States men's national soccer team has reportedly reached an understanding with AC Milan regarding Christian Pulisic's absence from the November international window.
The American forward sustained a hamstring problem while on duty with the national team in October and has been out of action for the past three weeks. Sources indicate that Milan expressed concerns about how the USMNT managed Pulisic's physical condition during fixtures against Ecuador and Australia.
The Italian club was reportedly so concerned that they requested Mauricio Pochettino exclude Pulisic from his November roster, a petition that Gazzetta dello Sport reports has now been resolved.
The Italian publication disclosed that "a mutual understanding has been established" between Milan and the USMNT to keep Pulisic unavailable for the final international window of 2024. The 27-year-old will thus receive adequate time to completely heal from his injury without facing unnecessary risks.
Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri remains hopeful that Pulisic could return to the pitch as soon as this weekend, although his exact involvement following his prolonged absence remains uncertain.
Pulisic was Serie A's top scorer before his setback, and his return to peak performance would significantly benefit a Milan squad sitting just one point behind league leaders Napoli. The Rossoneri's main focus is ensuring their key attacker is completely healthy and match-ready for the Milan derby scheduled for Sunday, November 23.
USMNT Face Consistency Issues Before 2026 World Cup
If Pulisic does miss the November international fixtures, the USMNT must navigate matches against Paraguay and Uruguay without their skipper. The spotlight will fall on Mallik Tillman to step up in the former Chelsea player's potential absence.
These two encounters will present significant challenges, particularly without Pulisic. Notably, the Stars and Stripes haven't beaten Uruguay in over two decades, and now face the prospect of seeking a positive result without their primary creative force and top goal threat.
While both fixtures are international friendlies, each game leading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup carries weight for a USMNT squad that has battled inconsistency. Due to injuries and key players missing the Gold Cup, Pochettino hasn't been able to field his optimal starting eleven consistently across multiple training camps.
Nevertheless, the USMNT aims to build upon their productive October performances heading into November, keeping their focus on delivering a strong showing on American soil during next summer's global tournament.