Pulisic Remains Unfazed by Goal Drought as World Cup Approaches

Pulisic Remains Unfazed by Goal Drought as World Cup Approaches

Christian Pulisic faces a challenging year in 2026, struggling to find the back of the net for both the United States men's national team (USMNT) and AC Milan. Despite not scoring for the USMNT since December 28, 2025, and still searching for his first goal of the year with AC Milan, he maintains a confident demeanor as the World Cup looms. In a recent interview with Time, Pulisic brushed off concerns about his goal drought, stating, "Such bad questions. I'm not concerned about it, man. I plan on scoring goals." His teammate, Weston McKennie, supports Pulisic’s confidence, asserting that the team is not worried about his current form. He emphasized Pulisic's commitment to performing for the team and the fans, saying, "I don't think any of us are worried whether he's going to be firing on all cylinders. It may not be clicking for him right now. But I have no doubt it will be at the World Cup." However, Pulisic's struggle is evident in his body language and decision-making on the field. To address this, USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino experimented with positioning Pulisic closer to goal during recent friendlies against Portugal, though the results were disappointing, with the team losing both matches. As Pochettino prepares for his first international management experience, he aims to build momentum with a consistent squad, viewing this upcoming period as critical for the team’s cohesion. Pulisic remains optimistic, suggesting that a successful World Cup could overshadow any current concerns, stating, "At the end of the day, if we go in and have a good World Cup, it'll be all forgotten."

Source: CBS Sports - 2026-05-07