Christian Pulisic, the teenager who looms large in U.S. soccer’s attempts to recover from its first failed World Cup qualifying campaign since 1986, was left off the 24-man national team roster for upcoming friendlies with Brazil and Mexico because of a leg injury.
Another teenager, Paris Saint-Germain attacker Tim Weah, 18, is part of the young, inexperienced roster that includes 14 players under the age of 24, including 16 who have made seven or fewer appearances with the senior national team.
“Over the course of the past friendlies, we have established a core of players. For these matches against Brazil and Mexico, the theme remains the same in that we are using the opportunity to continue building on the foundation that we’ve laid,” said interim coach Dave Sarachan, who has lost just once in six games since replacing Bruce Arena last fall.