In one of the strangest national team stories in recent memory, Borussia Mönchengladbach and USMNT defender, Joe Scally, was reportedly left off the U.S. men’s national team’s September roster… for doing donuts in a golf cart.
Yes, you read that right.
Joe Scally golf cart rumor
Streets are saying that Joe Scally Swung (did a Donut spin) with a Golf Car in the last Camp he was in. Pochettino & staff didn’t like That, that’s why he’s not being considered for the team anymore…idk if this is true but it’s a stupid reason to exclude him if true.#USMNT pic.twitter.com/P4UKN82FKa
— Edgar (@ConcacafEdgar) August 27, 2025
According to the rumor going viral on social media, Scally decided to take a joyride at a golf course during the last USMNT camp, and new head coach Mauricio Pochettino was anything but amused.
We wish this was a joke.
During a press conference ahead of the 2025 Gold Cup, Pochettino made it crystal clear that he expects focus and professionalism above all else, saying players are not here to enjoy things off the pitch, but rather focus what’s on it.
“If you arrive to the camp and you want to spend nice time, play golf, go for dinner, visit my family, visit my friend, that is the culture we want to create? No, no, no, no, no,” Pochettino said. “What we want to do is to go to the national team, arrive and be focused and spend all my focus and energy in the national team.”
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino on the mentality and expectations he wants to see from the players heading into camp ahead of the Gold Cup ️
"If you arrive to the camp and you want to spend nice time, play golf, go for a dinner, visit my family, visit my friend, that is… pic.twitter.com/kAkKfhLUDI— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) May 23, 2025
For Scally, one of the squad’s most consistent call-ups over the last two years, has now missed the last two international windows less than a year away from the 2026 World Cup.
The 22-year-old right back admitted he’s gutted to be watching from the sidelines. “I played the last two years almost every game for the national team,” he said. “Then to miss out on the Gold Cup and this camp, it’s upsetting. You feel like you put yourself in a position where you play all the games to be there.”
Whether or not the “golf cart donuts” tale is entirely true, Scally’s absence, along with many prominent names playing in Europe, is raising eyebrows.
️ Gio Reyna & Joe Scally to @ESPNFC on if there was any communication from Maurico Pochettino or his coaching staff to either of them by the decision to leave them out of the September roster:
Gio: "No."Scally: "No."
♂️♂️♂️♂️♂️♂️♂️♂️ pic.twitter.com/Azaw6RbCUG
— USMNT Otaku (@USMNTOtaku) August 28, 2025
