U.S. Men’s National Team forward Timothy Weah has hit back at critics questioning the commitment of his teammate Christian Pulisic, following the AC Milan star’s decision to skip the ongoing Gold Cup. Speaking after Juventus’ 5-0 Club World Cup win over Al Ain, Weah called the backlash against Pulisic “crazy” and emphasized that both he and Pulisic remain deeply committed to the national team, despite their absences from the current tournament.
“The situation with Christian, that’s unfortunate,” Weah said. “Obviously, you have all these guys talking behind the scenes, which, at the end of the day, we just want to play football. To question our love for the game or our love for the badge — it’s kind of crazy.”
Pulisic, 26, was not included in Mauricio Pochettino’s Gold Cup squad, a decision that stirred debate among fans and pundits alike. According to The Athletic, the USMNT captain requested time off following a grueling Serie A season with Milan, during which he played through several minor injuries. Pulisic later explained on the Call It What You Want podcast that he made the decision based on what was “best for my body.”
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino, who recently took charge of the USMNT, opted not to include Pulisic in either the June friendlies or the Gold Cup roster, preferring to keep one consistent squad for the duration of the summer.
Weah, who is also absent due to Juventus’ Club World Cup commitments, echoed his support for the squad and maintained regular contact with teammates despite being away from the tournament.
“I’m rooting for those guys at the Gold Cup. I’m following them the whole way. Hopefully they’re gonna bring the cup home,” Weah said. “I think they have a camp group chat, but I’m always in touch with the guys. I’m just keeping up with them, making sure everything’s on the right track.”
He also shared that while he hasn’t yet spoken directly with Pochettino, he intends to reach out soon. “I actually haven’t talked to Pochettino yet, but I’m always the guy to reach out to a coach and ask. I hope everything’s going well, and I can’t wait to be back in camp in September.”
With the U.S. off to a strong Gold Cup start — opening with a commanding 5-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago — attention now turns to their next test against Saudi Arabia on Friday. Meanwhile, Weah and fellow American Weston McKennie continue their Club World Cup journey with Juventus, facing Wydad Casablanca on Sunday.
Pulisic’s decision to rest this summer may ultimately be strategic, with next season at AC Milan and the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup on home soil demanding peak form and fitness. But for now, the conversation continues — with Weah making it clear that the heart and loyalty of America’s top talents should not be in doubt.
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