Sergiño Dest Withdraws from 2025 Gold Cup Roster Ahead of Tournament

San Jose, California — The U.S. Men’s National Team has finalized its roster for the upcoming Concacaf Gold Cup, but it will be without key defender Sergiño Dest. The PSV Eindhoven right back has withdrawn to focus on individual recovery after a knee injury that sidelined him for much of the previous season.

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino announced Dest’s absence on Thursday, stating, “The technical, medical and high performance staffs have done a series of evaluations this week on all the players in camp, and in the case of Sergiño, we determined the best decision is for the player to have an individualized training program for the summer so he can focus on being fully recovered and ready to perform next season.”

Dest’s withdrawal adds to a growing list of mainstays missing from the tournament, including forward Christian Pulisic and defender Antonee Robinson, both sidelined due to injuries. Additionally, the likes of Weston McKennie and Tim Weah are unavailable as their clubs are engaged in the FIFA Club World Cup.

In response to these absences, Pochettino has called up John Tolkin to replace Dest. The final roster includes some familiar veterans, such as goalkeeper Matt Turner and defender Tim Ream, but only five players have prior Gold Cup experience.

Among the newer names, Alex Freeman and Sebastien Berhalter are joining the USMNT for the first time. Freeman, a homegrown talent from Orlando City SC, has garnered attention for his strong performances in Major League Soccer.

The squad also features brothers Brenden and Paxten Aaronson, who hope to become the second set of siblings to play together for the national team. They are set to compete in games against Trinidad & Tobago, Saudi Arabia, and Haiti in the group stage of the Gold Cup.

The U.S. kicks off its Gold Cup campaign on June 15 against Trinidad at PayPal Park in San Jose, California. Following that, they will face Saudi Arabia on June 19 and Haiti on June 22. The Gold Cup serves as an important opportunity for players to showcase their skills ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. co-hosts.