USMNT
Why isn’t Christian Pulisic playing for USMNT?
The AC Milan forward was not named in Gregg Berhalter’s United States team for the Nations League clash against Trinidad and Tobago.
USMNT are looking to book a place in the 2024 Copa América but will have to do it without talisman Christian Pulisic.
The AC Milan forward is one of the most important members of Gregg Berhalter’s squad and wears the Number 10 jersey for the United States. However the 25-year-old was ruled out of the November international break due to injury
Follow live: USMNT vs Trinidad and Tobago
Pulisic suffered a reoccurrence of a hamstring strain in Milan’s 2-1 victory over Pairs Saint-Germain last week. It is not the first time that he has been ruled out with muscular injuries, an issue that blighted his spell at Chelsea.
Why isn’t Timothy Weah playing for USMNT?
Unfortunately for Berhalter, Pulisic is not the only attacking star ruled out of the November internationals. Juventus winger Timothy Weah has also fallen victim to a hamstring injury and has not travelled with the squad.
“We see them on track to get back to play soon,” Berhalter said of the injured duo. “But it’s too short of a deadline, so they won’t be involved.”
The absences of Pulisic and Weah will be a frustration for Berhalter, who has led the team to some impressive results since returning to the helm. In the most recent USMNT fixture - a 4-0 win over Ghana - Pulisic and Weah starred alongside Gio Reyna and Folarin Balogun in a fluid front-four.
Berhalter will not have the opportunity to repeat that forward line against Trinidad and Tobago, but the omissions could give opportunities for the likes of Brenden Aaronson, Alex Zendejas and Ricardo Pepi.
How can USMNT qualify for Copa América?
As part of their preparations to co-host the 2026 World Cup, the United States will host the 2024 Copa América. The CONMEBOL tournament is usually restricted to South American teams, but in 2024 six CONCACAF teams will be added.
The six North and Central American teams will be decided by their placing in the CONCACAF Nations League. The four semi-finalists will qualify automatically; the four losing quarter-finalists will go head-to-head to decide the final two qualifiers.
The United States are taking on Trinidad and Tobago in their two-legged quarter-final. The aggregate winner across the two games will secure guaranteed qualification.