With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just over a month away, excitement is building, especially for the United States, one of the tournament’s cohosts. This presents a fantastic opportunity for many of Mauricio Pochettino’s players, including star athlete Christian Pulisic, to experience the limelight.
As a way to commemorate the World Cup’s arrival in North America, Time magazine has featured the AC Milan forward on its May 25 cover, under the headline “Captain America — Christian Pulisic Steps Onto Sport’s Biggest Stage.” In the cover photo, he sports the striking red and white stripes of the new USMNT home jersey, layered over Milan’s iconic red and black striping.
In his interview, Pulisic reflects on his journey from Hershey, Pennsylvania, to a successful career in Europe with clubs such as Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, and Milan, along with his aspirations for the World Cup. Time describes him as “the most influential American men’s soccer player in the country’s 250-year history.”
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Pulisic also emphasizes his desire to break his recent goal drought, which has reached 17 matches for the Rossoneri, and he hasn’t scored for the national team since November 2024.
“My passion lies in going for goal, creating attacking plays. That’s what drives me in this game,” Pulisic stated. “Of course, I understand the need to fulfill other responsibilities like defending and running. That’s important too, but my true joy is in scoring and creating opportunities to score.”
When asked whether he believes the U.S. can win the World Cup, Pulisic confidently replied, “Absolutely. It’s not something I obsess over, but I can picture myself holding the World Cup trophy at night. I imagined that as a child, and I won’t stop believing. Why not dream big?”
This summer, the United States aims to surpass its previous World Cup achievements, having not advanced past the quarterfinals since 2002, with its highest finish being third place in 1930. The team is placed in Group D, facing Paraguay, Australia, and Türkiye.