The spotlight will shine brighter than ever on the USA national team when they take the field at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The excitement and attention surrounding the co-hosts in this 48-team event will be unprecedented, especially focused on Christian Pulisic.
For years, the 27-year-old forward has represented the Stars and Stripes, missing out on Russia 2018 as a teenager before playing a crucial role in helping the USA reach the knockout stage at Qatar 2022.
He is used to handling the pressure of being “the face of American soccer,” having played for top European clubs like Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea. He won the UEFA Champions League in the 2020/21 season with Chelsea.
Since the start of the 2023/24 season, Pulisic has been playing in Italy with Serie A giants AC Milan. In his third season at the club, the Hershey, Pennsylvania native is showing the best football of his career.
Despite suffering from a hamstring injury in October that kept him out for a month, Pulisic finished the first half of Milan’s season as their top scorer, netting ten goals in 16 games.
That includes eight goals in Serie A, making him the league’s joint top scorer alongside current world champion and Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez, even with five fewer matches played. He has also contributed two assists, totaling 12 goal contributions across all competitions.
One of his standout performances occurred unexpectedly when an illness limited him to a substitute role in a December 8 match against Torino. He came off the bench and scored twice in the second half, leading his team to a 3-2 comeback win.
His tactical understanding of the game has improved, allowing Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri to use Pulisic in different positions as needed. Whether playing wide or as a second striker, Pulisic is becoming skilled at managing time and space.
The arrival of ageless midfielder Luka Modric to Milan has likely influenced Pulisic, who is displaying the best off-the-ball movement of his career. Many of his goals come from well-timed runs into the box, a clear indicator that his ability to find the right space and timing has greatly improved.
“He still has room for improvement,” Allegri said about Pulisic in a recent press conference. “In his private life, he’s very reserved, but he transforms on the pitch. He still needs to find his best condition.”
This news is welcomed by USA coach Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentinian coach has been working diligently to reshape the national team into a more cohesive unit, moving away from the idea of “regular starters.” This shift makes the entire USA player pool eager to perform at the club level, knowing that final roster decisions for the World Cup will be extremely tight. Having his biggest star lead the way creates a perfect selection challenge.
“I think Christian has shown great quality in the last year,” Pochettino said in October on the Unfiltered Soccer podcast. “He’s performing in Europe and with the national team. He’s a very talented player who can help us win.
“You hear people compare (Lionel) Messi to Christian Pulisic. I don’t want to disrespect Messi or Pulisic, but I think in this country, Pulisic should be our Messi because he’s an iconic player. If you ask kids on the street to name one soccer player in this country, it’s Pulisic.”
Pulisic has a full half-season left at Milan, with just one international window in late March to make a final impression on Pochettino. However, his rising level of play bodes well for what could be a remarkable tournament for the USA.
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