Austin, Texas — Christian Pulisic, Ricardo Pepi, and Weston McKennie will not participate in the upcoming friendly match for the United States against Mexico on Tuesday, as they are set to rejoin their respective clubs in Europe.
Additionally, Marlon Fossey and Zack Steffen, who did not play in the recent 2-0 victory over Panama on Saturday, will also be heading back to their teams, according to a statement from the U.S. Soccer Federation released on Sunday.
According to the USSF, Pulisic is opting out of the match for load management reasons and will return to AC Milan. The other players are dealing with minor injuries and will receive evaluation and treatment from their clubs.
No additional players will be brought in, leaving the U.S. squad with 21 players available for the game in Guadalajara.
In the match against Panama, Pulisic provided an assist for Yunus Musah’s goal shortly after halftime, while Pepi found the net during stoppage time. This match also marked Mauricio Pochettino’s first game as the head coach for the U.S. national team.
“We continue to prioritize the well-being of our players and honor the commitments we have with their clubs,” Pochettino stated.