'They get complacent' - MLS legend Dax McCarty criticizes European-based USMNT stars for taking national team camps for granted

Former MLS stalwart Dax McCarty addressed what he sees as a problematic attitude among top American players competing in Europe. This comes in light of the fact that both Christian Pulisic and Antonee Robinson have pulled out of the Gold Cup for various reasons. McCarty specifically named Christian Pulisic, Timothy Weah, and Weston McKennie, arguing they have developed a sense of entitlement about their national team positions that wouldn't exist if they played for more competitive nations.

“You’ve done that in Europe, no one can touch the careers that some of these guys are having right now," McCarty said on The Overlap US. "I think that if Christian Pulisic was German, if Weston McKennie was French, if Tim Weah was Spanish, I don’t think that you would see them not going into every single camp that they were fit and available for."

He added, “Do you know why? Because the depth on our national team is not good enough, and it has to be said that the talent in our national team is not good enough right now to compete at the highest level. And that, in turn, lets these players – who have these great careers in Europe – they get complacent and they think, ‘you know what I have the luxury to miss a camp and to miss a Gold Cup because at the end of the day, there’s no one that’s going to step up and take my spot. Because I’m better than everyone else in my position and I play at a bigger club than they do’."

McCarty mentioned that creates a perspective, both internally and externally, that players aren't fully commited to the national team.

“So where I’m at is that, ‘Yeah I love the national team when it’s convenient for me, but not every single time there’s a camp’. And if Pulisic is injured, that’s fine. Take your rest, take your break, because I would rather him be fully fit going into the next season, and then be prepared for the World Cup," McCarty said. "But you need to say that because now, all you have us doing is speculating about if you want to be there or not.”

McCarty's critique reflects broader discussions about the state of American soccer development and the relationship between MLS and European-based players. Unlike traditional soccer powers that can replace even elite talents with equally skilled alternatives, the USMNT continues to struggle with depth beyond its core group of stars. This structural weakness creates a situation where certain players remain automatic selections regardless of form or commitment, causing several issues.

The USMNT and Mauricio Pochettino will be looking to put all their recent issues aside and focus on the 2025 Gold Cup with the squad that they have in place. They face Trinidad and Tobago in their first game of the tournament on June 15.