USMNT vs. Trinidad and Tobago: Projected lineups without Pulisic for the CONCACAF Gold Cup debut

The 2025 Gold Cup arrives at a complicated time for the United States Men’s National Team. With several key players unavailable due to Club World Cup duties or rest, head coach Mauricio Pochettino is forced to rely on a younger, less experienced roster.

The 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup has officially begun, but this edition presents a unique challenge for the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT). Running simultaneously with the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, several key players are unavailable for national team duty, including Weston McKennie and Tim Weah, who are competing in the international club tournament with Juventus. This forced head coach Mauricio Pochettino to restructure his squad, making strategic decisions to compensate for the absence of top-tier talent.

Adding to the complexity, injuries and rest-related absences have further weakened the USMNT roster. Key figures like Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams are not in the squad, with Pulisic choosing to rest after a grueling season with AC Milan. This leaves Pochettino relying heavily on younger, less experienced players to step up during a crucial moment in the team’s World Cup 2026 preparations.

In the lead-up to the tournament, the U.S. played two friendly matches to evaluate the new group. However, both matches ended in disappointment. First, the USMNT suffered a 2-1 defeat to Turkey, despite taking an early lead. Then came a harsh 4-0 loss to Switzerland, with all goals conceded in the first half—marking one of the worst defensive showings in recent memory. The pressure is now on Pochettino to quickly stabilize the team and generate positive momentum heading into the group stage.

Projected lineup USMNT vs. Trinidad and Tobago

The USMNT will begin their Gold Cup campaign on Sunday, June 14, against Trinidad and Tobago. The match will be held at PayPal Park in San Jose, California. Playing all group stage games at home gives the U.S. a crucial advantage, and they’ll be counting on home support to bounce back from recent setbacks.

Pochettino is expected to field the strongest lineup possible from the available roster. While the squad lacks experience, it still features promising talent capable of making an impact.

USMNT: Matt Turner; Arfsten, Mark McKenzie, Walker Zimmerman, Nathan Harriel; Johnny Cardoso, Luca De la Torre, Jack Sullivan; Diego Luna, Malik Tillman, Brian White.

Trinidad and Tobago: Marvin Phillip; Alvin Jones, Josiah Josha Trimmingham, Darnell Hospedales; Isaiah García, Kevin Molino, Daniel Phillips, Andre Rampersad, Tyrese Spicer; Isaiah Lee, Joevin Jones.