The U.S. has been without several stars at this summer's Gold Cup, so which fringe players have stepped up to fight for a place at next year's World Cup?

AUSTIN, Texas — Weeks after the U.S. men’s national team named its initial summer roster, the dominant conversation was not about who made the squad — but who didn’t. Most of the core group was absent due to injuries, Club World Cup duties, or, in Christian Pulisic’s case, a hotly debated need for rest.