USMNT: Adams ruled out vs. Switzerland, rotation expected in squad

The U.S. men’s national team improved on Saturday once Tyler Adams entered the fray, but Mauricio Pochettino won’t have his captain’s services for Tuesday’s final pre-CONCACAF Gold Cup friendly.

Adams will sit out of the USMNT’s home showdown with Switzerland due to precautions regarding a foot injury, Pochettino confirmed Monday in his pre-match press conference. The Bournemouth midfielder came off the bench and played the final 45 minutes of Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Turkey, logging his third international appearance of 2025.

With the Gold Cup group stage set to begin in six days and Adams coming off of a busy season for Bournemouth, Pochettino wants to preserve his veteran midfielder for the longevity of the upcoming tournament.

“Tyler is out for tomorrow because he suffered a small issue in his foot,” Pochettino said. “But I think it’s not a big issue. Hope it’s not a big issue. I think we can manage it in a good way and rest it for a few days, and then see if he can be ready for the Gold Cup. That is why he’s not going to be involved tomorrow.”

As for the rest of the USMNT squad, Pochettino will be expected to freshen up his starting lineup after an average showing against Turkey. A total of nine players were unused substitutes at Rentschler Field last weekend, including Brenden Aaronson, John Tolkin, and Paxten Aaronson.

Dual-national forward Damion Downs, midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, and goalkeeper Chris Brady will be seeking their senior debuts while veterans Matt Turner and Walker Zimmerman will also aim to earn minutes of their own. Pochettino has plenty of options to choose from, and the Argentine will need to get his choices correct if the USMNT wants to snap a first three-match losing streak since last summer.

“Preparing for the Gold Cup, I think it’s good to make some changes now and to give the possibility to other players to play,” Pochettino said. “What I want to see tomorrow is to continue evolving the way that we started to play against Turkey. It’s a continuation of this feeling.

“If we will get tomorrow after 90 minutes, the same feeling, I think the progression is there and I’m going to be happy,” he added. “The result also is important. But I think now, with a lot of new players, for the first time and building a team for the Gold Cup, I think the focus is more in the process to improve than maybe the result. And of course, I think the Gold Cup is going to be both progression and results.”