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<ul><li>Donovan says USMNT could struggle in Gold Cup group </li><li>Brian White's form could make him a USMNT option</li><li>Christian Pulisic's AC Milan performances praised</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

'Not a walkover' - Landon Donovan questions USMNT’s Gold Cup prospects, says 'invested' Christian Pulisic is 'heartbeat' of the team

CONCACAF Champions Cup

Vancouver Whitecaps

Inter Miami CF

The USMNT’s disappointing performance in the recent CONCACAF Nations League, where they lost to both Panama and Canada, raised questions for some fans - especially with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon.And with the 2025 Gold Cup upcoming, former U.S. star Landon Donovan now says he is concerned about the prospects for Mauricio Pochettino's side to advance out of their group. The USMNT's <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/usmnt-2025-concacaf-gold-cup-trophy-chase-against-trinidad-and-tobago-on-june-15-in-san-jose-wraps-up-group-stage-at-at-t-stadium-on-june-22-dallas-cowboys-haiti-trinidad-tobago-saudi-arabia/blt946eff03eb05d188" target="_blank">chase for an eighth Gold Cup title</a> kicks off against on Trinidad and Tobago on June 15. The Americans will then play guest nation Saudi Arabia four days later before wrapping up against Haiti on June 22.“Saudi Arabia is a decent team," Donovan said on the Unfiltered podcast. "So that is not a walkover, Trinidad and aren’t great and Haiti are a sneaky good team... my guess is that Group D winner would play the Group C runner-up? And so this is aligned just the way CONCACAF wants it and, hopefully, U.S. fans want it. But my eyes jumped ahead to a potential U.S. v Panama or a U.S. v Jamaica in the next round.“So do I think we should get out of this group? Absolutely. But Haiti is a sneaky good team, Saudi Arabia is a sneaky good team and the two performances we last saw from this U.S. group, they could absolutely not win those two games... I think there will be a response but certainly adds more intrigue to this Gold Cup.”

WHAT HAPPENED

Tim Howard, Donovan’s co-host on the podcast, praised <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/brian-white-etches-name-in-the-vancouver-whitecaps-record-books-with-a-spectacular-four-goal-performance/blt88fe07ff5783b380" target="_blank">Brian White’s four-goal performance</a> for the Vancouver Whitecaps over the weekend and said that, if he maintains his form, he should be part of Pochettino's roster.“We hope that there’s a lot of attention being paid by the USMNT’s staff to MLSers who aren’t necessarily at the front of the line," Howard said. "So what am I trying to say there? I’m trying to say that U.S. soccer, American soccer is lazy when it comes to identifying talent. We just take the people that are at the top of the list and forget everyone else."If Brian White continues to do the business should he have an opportunity to go to the Gold Cup? Absolutely. We are not a country that produce goalscorers, natural goalscorers. So if there’s somebody that’s firing them in, then absolutely he should be in contention for the Gold Cup squad.”Donovan also praised Christian Pulisic’s performances for AC Milan, adding that his national teammates have let him down.“So he is the heartbeat of that team, offensively, and he’s not always on the scoresheet - and he often has been - but everything goes through him," Donovan said of Pulisic. "And he’s just had an awesome season. And I’ve said this before, it’s why with the national team, I feel bad for him because he cares, he’s invested in it. And when he has to be a part of some of those performances, I’m sure it’s devastating. But he’s had a phenomenal year and I hope it continues out through May from now on."<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="362" src="https://youtube.com/embed/oGctCiLQuNE" title="YouTube video player" width="644"></iframe>

WHAT HOWARD AND DONOVAN SAID

As the 2026 World Cup approaches, the USMNT's performance in the Gold Cup becomes crucial for building confidence and cohesion. The discussion around White's form highlights the ongoing search for consistent goalscoring options.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The USMNT will next reunite in the June international break. The USMNT face Turkey and Switzerland on June 7 and 10, respectively, before the Gold Cup kicks off in mid-June.

WHAT’S NEXT?

'Not a walkover' - Landon Donovan questions USMNT’s Gold Cup prospects, says 'invested' Christian Pulisic is 'heartbeat' of the team | Goal.com

On the podcast with Donovan, Tim Howard praised Brian White and said &apos;American soccer is lazy when it comes to identifying talent&apos;

&apos;Not a walkover&apos; - Landon Donovan questions USMNT’s Gold Cup prospects, says &apos;invested&apos; Christian Pulisic is &apos;heartbeat&apos; of the team

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