Panama Stays on U.K.'s 'Red' List, Impacting Pulisic, Other USMNT Players' Availability

Christian Pulisic and other U.S. stars may not be able to travel to Panama for a qualifier that is sandwiched in between two home games next month.

The British government is keeping Panama on its red list, which means the United States may have to play without star Christian Pulisic and several other U.K.-based players for its World Cup qualifier at the Central American nation on Oct. 10.

The U.S. plays at Panama between home matches against Jamaica on Oct. 7 at Austin, Texas, and vs. Costa Rica on Oct. 13 at Columbus, Ohio.

Britain requires anyone visiting a nation on its red list to quarantine upon arrival in England for 10 days. An Oct. 10 match in Panama followed by the game in Columbus would rule out Pulisic from playing for Chelsea in its Premier League match at Brentford on Oct. 16 and a home Champions League game against Malmö on Oct. 20.

U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter could be forced to leave Pulisic and other British-based players in the U.S. for training between the two qualifiers, which may cause Berhalter to bring a larger group to camp.

Pulisic was among five England-based players on the U.S. roster for the opening three qualifiers in September: a 0-0 draw at El Salvador, a 1-1 home draw against Canada and a 4-1 win at Honduras.

Pulisic injured an ankle during the second half at Honduras on Sept. 8. He missed Chelsea’s 3-0 win at Aston Villa last weekend and a 1-0 Champions League victory over Zenit St. Petersburg on Tuesday. He will not dress for Sunday’s match at Tottenham.

“Christian Pulisic is in individual training and trying to come back as fast as possible to team training,” Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said Friday.

Other England-based U.S. players on the September roster were Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen, Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Ethan Horvath, Norwich forward Josh Sargent and Fulham defenders Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson.

Steffen missed the three matches because of back spasms and a positive COVID-19 test.

The British government said Friday that it will shift on Oct. 4 from a three-tier system of green, amber and red nations — low, medium and high risk — to a two-tier system of red and open. While eight countries are being removed from the red list as of next Wednesday, Panama was not among those being changed.

Premier League clubs blocked players from traveling to South American nations for qualifiers this month, among them Brazil’s Alisson, Fabinho, Roberto Firmino (Liverpool); Ederson, Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City); Thiago Silva (Chelsea); Fred (Manchester United); Richarlison (Everton); and Raphinha (Leeds).

A qualifier between Brazil and Argentina in São Paulo was suspended in the seventh minute on Sept. 5 when local health officials walked onto the field and attempted to remove three players whom they said didn’t comply with coronavirus restrictions.