Former USMNT defender Jimmy Conrad: Christian Pulisic skipping Gold Cup is ‘disappointing,’ but spotlight should be on U.S. players on the roster

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GOAL spoke with Conrad at media day ahead of the veteran's upcoming games at TST 2025 in North Carolina

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WHAT HAPPENED?

CARY, N.C. - Christian Pulisic's request to have the summer off from U.S. men's national team duty has drawn criticism since the announcement. The USMNT's superstar attacker, following a disastrous team showing at the Nations League in March, will not be participating in the CONCACAF Gold Cup this summer - the last tournament the team will have ahead of the FIFA World Cup - and it's brought forth a plethora of opinions since.

Former U.S. international and member of the 2006 World Cup squad, Jimmy Conrad, was the latest to deliver his verdict.

"I would be lying if I didn't say I wasn't disappointed," Conrad told GOAL at media day for The Soccer Tournament 2025.

Conrad, however, said he can relate to Pulisic's perspective. The former defender, who had 27 caps for the Americans, pointed to the fact that he, too, asked for a break from the national team during a January camp call-up.

"I know what it's like to have the courage to have to really think about ‘I just need a rest,’ and so, imagine if we didn't give him that," Conrad explained. "You have to meet your players where they are, right? It's like the No. 1 thing of leadership... is there going to be some fallout? Yes, but it's up to the coach and the other members of the team to protect that space a little bit. So, yeah, competitively, I’m bummed he’s not there.

"It's a big opportunity to be a part of the group for a month – we're not going to have that leading up to the World Cup. However, for him to ask that means there's something bigger going on, and we need to respect that as well... Let's just focus on the players that are going to be there - and I'm excited to see if some players can take their chance."

READ MORE: Sergio Agüero, Luis Nani, Hope Solo and Carli Lloyd headline TST 2025

US defender Jimmy Conrad reacts during t

WHAT CONRAD SAID

Conrad broke out with the USMNT at the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup, one year before the 2006 World Cup, utilizing the regional tournament to make his case for the world's biggest sporting event.

His career is one that multiple U.S. players on the training camp roster for this month will be looking at to inspire them to push their way into the fold of selection ahead of next summer, and he's hoping they do so, too.

His message to players such as Patrick Agyemang, Paxten Aaronson, Diego Luna, Brian White, Damion Downs, and Jack McGlynn - among others - is to be the best teammate possible, while pushing to find the best version of themselves on the pitch, as well.

"What can I do to provide value? Like working hard to practice, pushing the guys, being a good leader, having presence...I mean, simple things, like, I'm just gonna pick up balls without being asked, not having any shred of entitlement," he explained. "Because when you get down to if you're gonna be like 18 through 23 or 23 to 26 on a World Cup roster, they have to know and trust that you're not going to cause them problems a week in because things aren't going your way."

Conrad said he would relish the opportunity to speak to the team about his World Cup experience.

"It's a really big opportunity, because now you can be around the coaching staff for five weeks to really, kind of put your fingerprints and stamp on 'This is how I'm going to be if you need me.' I'd love to sit down and talk with them, because I obviously nailed it, because I got into the World Cup roster in 2006. Yeah, not bad haha, young people. Didn't expect it, but it's because I had earned that trust from the coaching staff during that time."

pochettino

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Conrad is featuring at the 7v7 World Championships this week for the third-straight season, but this year, he's turned to the touchline to lead his squad, Kwik Goal FC. He will be joined by the likes of former MLS MVPs Sebastian Giovinco and Dwayne De Rosario, with action kicking off Wednesday.

The USMNT, meanwhile, begins their pre-Gold Cup training camp this week with Pochettino - though Pulisic isn't the only star missing. Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Gio Reyna are all playing in the Club World Cup, while Folarin Balogun was sent home on Sunday due to injury and Yunus Musah is not in camp for "personal reasons."

It's a new-look group for the U.S., and all eyes will be on Pochettino to see if he can maximize what he has available for the Gold Cup as the U.S. look to win their first title in the competition since 2021.

Kwik Goal FC TST 2025

WHAT NEXT?

Conrad and Kwik Goal FC take the pitch at TST this week as they look to march their way towards the $1 million prize for winning the men's division. The USMNT, meanwhile, plays Turkey on Saturday in an international friendly ahead of the Gold Cup.