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The U.S. roster for the Regional Championship was finalized when goalkeeper Zach Steffen had to leave a recent training camp due to a knee injury, bringing the team down to 26 players. This adjustment meant that a complete roster had to be submitted to Concacaf later that day.
However, there was a surprising update. On Thursday morning, USMNT confirmed that 24-year-old right back Sergiño Dest, who played in the 2022 World Cup and has experience with top European clubs like Barcelona, AC Milan, and PSV Eindhoven, is now part of the roster.
Dest made his comeback to the field in March after recovering from a torn ACL, which sidelined him for nearly a year. He played in seven matches, starting five and going the full 90 minutes during the Ediv Eves Finale on May 18. Coach Mauricio Pochettino indicated that ensuring Dest’s health is paramount, opting for him to focus on individual training this summer instead of competing in the Gold Cup. He will be replaced by left-back John Tolkien.
Pochettino mentioned that the technical and medical team has been evaluating all players, and in Dest’s case, the decision was made to allow him to focus on full recovery to enhance his performance for the upcoming season.
Dest joins a lengthy list of regulars absent from the US team this summer. After playing 100 matches for AC Milan in the last two years, Christian Pulisic is reportedly taking a break to prepare for the crucial 2026 World Cup. Additionally, Anthony Robinson recently underwent knee surgery, while Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna, and Tim Weah are participating in the Club World Cup. Key strikers Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi are also dealing with injuries.
Dest hasn’t played for his national team since March 2024, making his potential appearance under Pochettino this summer a silver lining for fans.
On Tuesday, U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner emphasized the significance of Dest’s return to camp. "Serg is an incredible player," Turner said. "He’s a fun teammate, and it’s great to see him back on the field. He’s looking fit."
Turner added that Dest has matured through his recovery, expressing happiness for his return to the team.
Unfortunately, that reunion will be delayed for at least a few months. The final Gold Cup roster allows for replacements to be made up to 24 hours before the opening match.
Final Gold Cup Roster:
- Goalkeepers: Matt Freeze (New York City FC), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace)
- Defenders: Max Alfsten (Columbus), Alex Freeman (Orlando), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Miles Robinson (Cincinnati), John Tolkien (Holstein Kiel), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville)
- Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds), Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Sebastian Lletget (Vancouver), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Luca de la Torre (San Diego), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union), Malik Tillman (PSV)
- Forwards: Paxten Aaronson (Eintracht Frankfurt), Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte), Damion Downs (Cologne), Brian White (Vancouver), Haji Wright (Coventry)
Doug McIntyre is a football journalist for Fox Sports, covering the U.S. men’s and women’s national teams across five continents. Follow him on Twitter @DougMcIntyre.
Fan Take: This news is crucial for soccer enthusiasts as it highlights the evolving dynamics of the U.S. team, particularly with young talents like Dest stepping up amidst injuries. His absence from the Gold Cup raises concerns about the team’s depth but also adds intrigue about how the squad will perform under pressure.
