It’s time for everything to come good in sport. Or at least for Summer 2026 to be the new millennium. Christian Pulisic has been bearing the weight of American soccer for about 10 years, and with the World Cup coming home next year, he can no longer afford a hiding place. The pressure has become.
The World Cup in the US starts with the match against Paraguay on Jun 11, at the Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles. Our cover interview with Christian Pulisic, the most powerful American men’s soccer player ever in the history of the magazine since its founding in 1954, reveals what delusional faith you must have to be at this level that you cannot escape. Plus, how, as a boy, he would see him holding the World Cup trophy in his bed at night.
The Drought
Pulisic’s longest goal drought in his professional career is coming to an end, as the last time he scored a goal was on December 28, 2025, with AC Milan, and that was in 17 club games and more. It was the last goal net he was put in front of since November 2024, when he played a total of six caps and had no goals with the USMNT.
Pulisic didn’t seem too bothered when asked about the issue by TIME journalist Sean Gregory in an interview this week. I set myself targets, the Juventus striker said. These are some terrible questions. I am not concerned about it. Weston McKennie, a fellow Juventus player and US international, also talked to Gregory and indicated that although the Bayern winger might not be hitting the same level that he was at the last World Cup, he should be able to fall back into the groove by the time he is playing at the next World Cup.
On Monday, AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri stated that there was pressure on new signing Christian Eriksen to perform following the Denmark midfielder claiming that he felt the burden of the lack of a goal.
The Captain Question
The armband conundrum of the USMNT is one that has sparked much debate, with most people questioning whether Christian Pulisic is prepared to wear the captain’s armband permanently, having already worn it 28 times. Would you say that he would have been able to play centre back and wear the armband as such?
Alexi Lalas, in his podcast with Christian Pulisic, said, ” I do not think that Christian Pulisic is who this club needs or wants as captain. The point is, who is he? To whose round does it turn? Nobody.
This was an adaptation of the song by Freddie Adu in 2010 to a game Fabian Pulisic was playing that year. He decided to do so without the burden that Landon Donovan brought in 2010. October 10, 2024, was when Robert Pochettino was hired as National Team Manager and Director of Development. The new permanent captain had not been announced as of the October 2024 newsletter, with the most recent announcement being that of the May 26, 2024, announcement in New York City of the 24-man training squad.
In the actual world, Pulisic would not even be considered to have the armband, of course. The badge, the federation, the flag… is greater than a name– Pochettino. No one is bigger than a team.
The Supporting Cast
With the quantity of quality that the USMNT seemingly possesses in their depth-charging midfield, Pulisic will surely get a lot of attention, but I hope that the player to watch will be Tyler Adams in the event that he is fit and well in November. Folarin Balogun seems to be the most promising USMNT youngster, as he scores in Ligue 1 and in the Champions League for Monaco as well.
The US has taken a long time to make it to the quarterfinals of the world cup, last time it was in the quarterfinals was in 2002. There’s a lot of hunger with this team, and rightfully so. The US was not an afterthought as FIFA ranked 16th in the world, but by no means a favorite to enter the World Cup.
The Injury Scare
There was a small dose of tension on hand already in Pulisic, having fallen ill in early May with a strain to his glutes, and having to miss a game at Milan-Atalanta. Still unsure if he will be able to travel back to Milan for the two remaining Serie A matches before World Cup camp opens on May 27 in Atlanta.
This clock was inhuman, yet to Christian Pulisic, all too human. In 2022, the now 27-year-old American star went to extremes to net the game-winning goal that propelled the US to the round of 16 against Iran, where he was injured with a pelvic contusion. The traumatic experience of the event and the fact that he got hurt have left their mark. “It’s a feeling that you never forget,” he tells TIME.
The Dream
It will be an exception in the summer of the 24-year-old Pulisic. So far in his career with the USMNT, Pulisic has scored 32 goals in 84 games, the 5th all-time most goals by a male player in American history. This summer is, however, not going to be like any other summer Pulisic has been out with the national team, as all the games will be sold out. A crowd of folk will be in front of him, and a wall of humanity behind him. The young star will be grinding it out, and the pressure of the soccer hopes of a nation will be piled upon him with each match.
He, too, attempted to strike at the goal and made efforts to form an attacking play, which is what the game is to him, I suppose.
I believe that it is entertaining and difficult to devise methods of scoring goals and finishing attacks.
Christian Pulisic will have a dream when he enters a global arena and will feature in the World Cup of his country, World Cup 2026, in his homeland. This is what the young Hershey, Pennsylvania, forward has been dreaming of all his life. The time has come now, with him being a world-class winger of the world-class in both Chelsea and the US National team. Enough is enough as the largest soccer platform in the world sinks into the US so as to host a tournament that will give Pulisic and USA Soccer the ultimate competition.
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