Busio and Pulido named to their national teams for 2021 Gold Cup

Sporting Kansas City’s Alan Pulido and Gianluca Busio have been named to their respective team rosters for the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup. Pulido has become a regular with the Mexico Men’s National Team but for Busio, it is his first call to the full United States Men’s National Team. With Concacaf announcing the final 23-player rosters for the qualified Gold Cup teams, it became official.

Pulido returned from representing Mexico in the Concacaf Nations League where he subbed on in the second half of the semifinals versus Costa Rica. The match went to penalties and Pulido convincingly put his attempt in the back of the net. Pulido did not appear in the final but did start for Mexico in a friendly with Honduras before returning to Kansas City.

Since joining Sporting KC, the 30-year-old striker has notched 12 goals and six assists through 23 MLS appearances and is currently tied for fourth in MLS with six goals.

Mexico Schedule: 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup - Group A

Saturday, July 10 9 p.m. CT Mexico vs. opponent TBD

Wednesday, July 14 8:30 p.m. CT Mexico vs. Curacao

Sunday, July 18 9 p.m. CT Mexico vs. El Salvador

Busio becomes the second youngest player named to a Gold Cup roster in U.S. Men’s history with only Juan Agudelo being younger when he was named in 2011.

While this is the first full senior team call-up for Busio, he has previously played for the United States Under-15, Under-17 and Under-20 youth national teams and was a finalist for U.S. Soccer Young Player of the Year in 2019 (won by Sergino Dest). He was on the Best XI at the 2019 Concacaf U-17 Championship after scoring five goals. He also scored at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil but was left off the US Olympic qualifying team that failed to advance again.

Busio is the first SKC Academy graduate to be named to the full national team for an official competiton and the first SKC player since Ike Opara in 2018.

Each year since Busio signed as a Homegrown player, he has consistently played more of a role until now he is a consistent starter and has played in several spots.

It will be a familiar environment for Busio in his first senior team duty. The US group games are all in Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park and they will train in Kansas City through that time period.

USMNT Schedule Concacaf Gold Cup at Children’s Mercy Park

Sunday, July 11 7:30pm United States vs TBD* (Winner Prelims 7)

Thursday, July 15 8:30pm United States vs Martinique

Sunday, July 18 4:00pm United States vs Canada

Both Pulido and Busio could miss three to four games if the two CONCACAF powers advance to the final.

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports