United States men’s national team star Christian Pulisic will not be included in manager Mauricio Pochettino’s upcoming 26-player roster for the national team’s September international window. The decision comes as the 27-year-old winger works his way back to full fitness following an extended injury layoff that kept him out of action during the late summer months. Pochettino opted to grant the American star additional time to regain his rhythm with AC Milan rather than rush him back into international action for upcoming friendly fixtures against Peru, Chile, Canada, and Mexico.
Pulisic recently made his return to competitive action for AC Milan in Serie A during a 2-2 draw against Lazio. Entering the match as a second-half substitute under new Milan manager Rúben Amorim, Pulisic delivered an immediate impact by providing a key assist for Diego Moreira’s goal. The appearance marked Pulisic’s first competitive minutes since suffering a tibia microfracture during the USMNT's World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium, an injury that delayed his start to the 2026-27 European campaign.
Since arriving at AC Milan in July 2023 from Premier League club Chelsea, Pulisic has established himself as a vital offensive contributor for the Rossoneri. His debut season in Italy saw him reach double digits in goals while securing a key starting spot in Milan’s domestic and European campaigns. Prior to his move to Serie A, Pulisic spent four seasons in London with Chelsea, where he won the UEFA Champions League in 2021, after initially breaking out as a teenage prodigy in Germany with Borussia Dortmund.
The temporary break from international duty allows Pulisic to focus entirely on solidifying his role in Amorim’s tactical setup at San Siro. With AC Milan balancing Serie A fixtures alongside their UEFA Europa League group stage campaign against opponents such as Benfica, Amorim has managed Pulisic’s workload cautiously as the attacker completes his final rehabilitation phase.
For the USMNT, Pochettino’s roster selection opens the door for younger domestic talents and emerging prospects to earn valuable international minutes. While Pulisic remains the defining figure of American soccer, his priority in the near term remains regaining peak match sharpness in Italy before reintegrating into the national squad for future competitive windows.
