'Onus on Christian Pulisic to bring it' - Alexi Lalas says the USMNT star's decision to skip Gold Cup will put pressure on him 'live up to the hype' for the 2026 World Cup

Former U.S. international Alexi Lalas has questioned Christian Pulisic's commitment to the U.S. men's national team amid his absence from the 2025 Gold Cup roster.

Pulisic made the decision ahead of the international window that he would not participate with the USMNT, taking the Gold Cup off due to fatigue. Lalas said this week that the the public pressure on Pulisic after opting to skip the Gold Cup could increase for the 2026 World Cup.

"So, yeah, I mean, look, Christian Pulisic is going to be fine," Lalas said on The Herd with Colin Cowherd on FOX. "He's a big boy, alright? He's going to take his licks right now, publicly, which is fine. He may hit back. I don't know. And I think he's going to be there next summer. And maybe in a strange way, this puts the burden, if you will, or the onus on Christian Pulisic to bring it, because he's rested, and we are going to expect more.

"Fine, Christian, you got to take the summer of 2025 off. That means that when you come in the summer of 2026, you live up to the hype."

USMNT legends such as Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey are among others who publicly criticized Pulisic's decision. On Thursday, the 26-year-old winger said those questioning his commitment were "way out of line." He also claimed he offered to play in two pre-Gold Cup friendlies against Turkey and Swizterland, but the USMNT coaching staff declined.

Lalas said that Pulisic needs to embrace the challenge and perform at a higher level when he does rejoin the USMNT.

"The bigger problem for Christian Pulisic not to be here this summer, is that that you got to read the room, dude," Lalas said. "I would think if this really means something to you, that you would move heaven and earth to be there to try to set this right. Now, does it mean that it's all going to go great? No, but at least you are there in the trenches in the most important moment before this World Cup helping this team."

The USMNT last won the Gold Cup in 2021, and in 2019, Pulisic was a part of the roster that lost to Mexico 1-0 in the final of the competition. That was the last time he played in the Gold Cup.

The U.S. begins their Gold Cup journey Sunday against Trinidad and Tobago in the group stage opener.