The United States national team is preparing for one of its last friendly matches of the year, against Ecuador at the Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, in the midst of a series of physical setbacks that are complicating the outlook for Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentine coach, who is still in the testing phase, is looking to consolidate the base of players he will take to the 2026 World Cup, but he will have to do so with several key absentees.
Pulisic and Robinson on tenterhooks
During training on October 9, Christian Pulisic presented physical discomfort that left him out of practice, as well as Antonee Robinson, as confirmed by Pochettino in a press conference.
"I need to communicate that we have some problems with some players like Christian [Pulisic], who did not train today, and Antonee Robinson. We have to evaluate tomorrow if they will be available. We don't think Alex [Zendejas] can play tomorrow," said the coach.
Zendejas ruled out; uncertainty for Pulisic
One of the standout players in the last call-up, Alex Zendejas, was completely ruled out of the match against Ecuador. Meanwhile, Pulisic's situation remains uncertain. The AC Milan striker, who was recently named Serie A Player of the Month, could start, come off the bench or even miss the game altogether, depending on how he progresses in the coming hours.
Before the 2025 Gold Cup, Pulisic had already admitted to suffering from physical fatigue, which is why he decided not to play in the friendlies prior to that tournament. Although he clarified that it was never his intention to miss the tournament, the gesture generated some tension among fans and former players, who have questioned his commitment to the USMNT.
A key end to the year for Pochettino
Beyond Pulisic's case, Pochettino sees these friendlies as a crucial opportunity to observe variants and test formations before the next big competitive challenge. If the USMNT captain does not see minutes against Ecuador, the coaching staff is considering giving him playing time in the next friendly against Australia, scheduled for the next few days.