'Laughing stock for the world' - Herculez Gomez knocks Christian Pulisic's public comments, USMNT turmoil, and says star player 'should be used to the criticism'

Former USMNT forward Herculez Gomez criticized Christian Pulisic's recent comments, in which the USMNT star said he offered to play in two pre-Gold Cup friendlies after opting to skip the tournament itself.

USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino declined the offer, saying Saturday that he wanted a consistent squad for the friendlies and tournament and that "I understand him, but I don’t need him to understand our decisions."

Gomez said that Pulisic appeared "selfish" in making the public comments, and described the current narrative around the USMNT as a "dumpster fire."

“There’s a narrative that Christian Pulisic is weak, that Pulisic is selfish, that he’s looking out for himself, that he doesn’t have pride, that he doesn’t care about the national team," Gomez said on ESPN FC's Futbol Americas. "And he sees, and he hears, and he sees how bad the USMNT is. And he decides, 'I have to speak' and in speaking, I think he comes out worse. He comes out worse himself, he makes US Soccer look bad. Is’s a dumpster fire right now.”

Gomez said the back-and-forth among critics, fans and those in the program is a reputational hit for U.S. Soccer.

"It seems he wanted to play the first two friendlies, and then he was denied that which is fair. Which is fair for Pochettino if he feels he has to be here. I have no issue," Gomez said. "My issue is the dumpster fire for the world to see, that U.S. Soccer is a laughing stock for the world... People are laughing at the USMNT and this is a reflection of what U.S. Soccer has been for the last two, three years. It is embarrassing.”

Pulisic has been criticized by a number of former USMNT players, including Landon Donovan and Tim Howard, for opting not to play in this summer's tournament. Pulisic said that it's "out of line" to question his commitment to the USMNT.

Gomez said he was surprised that Pulisic took offense.

“I’m very surprised at how much weight Christian Pulisic puts on this specifically, of the criticism of the USMNT," Gomez said. "Because I know for a fact that when you play for a club like Chelsea, Dortmund when you play on this Milan, you’re going to get criticized. So I’m very surprised that it’s here he’s speaking out because at Chelsea, every time he had a somewhat OK or bad performance, it would rain on him.

“He’s not going to walk the streets of the United States and people throw tomatoes at him. So I’m very surprised at why so much stock on this issue. Every team in the world is going to face criticism, every player - if you’re worthy of it - is going to face criticism. He plays in an environment right now where he should be used to the criticism. That worries me a bit.”

Gomez added that he’s confused as to why Donovan and Pulisic are at odds, saying they are similar players, with similar personalities.

“Christian Pulisic is a very talented player but this should not worry him. The irony here is one of the biggest critics is Landon Donovan," he said. "Donovan and Christian Pulisic are so similar, the parallels are uncanny. Even in the playing style and their decision making and how introverted they are, the way that they speak, their deameanor, they’re so similar.

"I don’t understand why two players that similar, on the same career trajectory - not the club level - on the international level are at odds with each other in this way. It’s just beyond me that this should not be something that he (Pulisic) focuses on.”

Gomez’s characterization of the federation as a "dumpster fire" echoes growing frustration among former players, media, and fans with the organization's perceived lack of direction and accountability. The team is 5-5 under Pochettino and lost four straight entering the Gold Cup.

The USMNT face Trinidad and Tobago in their first game of the 2025 Gold Cup Sunday night at the PayPal Park in San Jose, California.