USMNT call up Chicago Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady to replace injured Patrick Schulte ahead of pre-Gold Cup friendlies

The U.S. had to make a change at goalkeeper after Schulte sustained an oblique injury over the weekend

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• Schulte out of USMNT squad
• Brady in for first senior call-up
• Joins Turner, Steffen and Freese in goalkeeper pool

• AFP
  

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ahead of the upcoming Gold Cup, U.S. men's national team boss Mauricio Pochettino called up Chicago Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady to replace the injured Patrick Schulte.

  Schulte's removal comes after the Columbus Crew goalkeeper sustained an oblique injury over the weekend, with that injury expected to keep him out through the Gold Cup. In his place, Pochettino has called in Brady to join Matt Turner, Zack Steffen and Matt Freese in the 27-player USMNT squad.

  Pochettino will cut that squad down to 26 following two pre-Gold Cup friendlies, with one of the four goalkeepers likely making way before the tournament.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Schulte's injury comes at a tough time, as the Crew star was looking to push Turner for the USMNT's starting job. Turner has been the starter since the 2022 World Cup cycle but, due to his lack of minutes at Crystal Palace, the race to be the 2026 starter remains on.

  Brady will now join Steffen and Freese for the summer portion of that race, with the Fire shotstopper earning his first senior team call-up. Brady has previously featured for the U.S. throughout the youth levels.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Brady was a regular for the U.S. at the U20 level, winning the Golden Gloves at the 2022 CONCACAF U20 Championship. He then featured for the U.S. U23s, but did not make the final 2024 Olympic squad, which included Schulte and Gabriel Slonina in goal.

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR THE USMNT?

  The U.S. will face Turkey on June 7 and Switzerland on June 10 in pre-Gold Cup friendlies. They'll then take on Trinidad & Tobago, Saudi Arabia and Haiti in the group stage to start this summer's tournament.