Christian Pulisic breaks silence on USMNT struggles and bold World Cup 2026 vision | OneFootball

The star at AC Milan and the most recognizable face of USMNT, Christian Pulisic, spoke with GQ Sports, where he reflected heavily. "Captain America," sharing from his first memories in a national-team camp all the way through the most pain-and-growth-filled ones, discussed what shapes him and how he projects what's on tap for soccer within the United States borders.

Respect for Marco Reus, then the jump to USMNT

Christian Pulisic remembered how Marco Reus, who is now playing for the LA Galaxy and is an MLS Cup champion, inspired him when he was starting his career. "I was watching my first live game in Dortmund, and seeing how smooth and silky he looked with the ball was incredible," Pulisic said. He quickly recognized the level of commitment and effort it took to stand out while training with Reus.

It didn't take long for Pulisic to find his way into the USMNT's senior team. "I was 17 years old when my first call-up happened," he remembered. Even though he was the youngest in that circle, out of the blue, he felt welcomed. "The guys were so nice; I thought it would be tougher, but they made me feel at home," he said. This early introduction to the competitive environment set the stage for his role as a core figure in the USMNT.

Sep 10, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; USA forward Christian Pulisic (10) dribbles against New Zealand in the second half at TQL Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images | Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

Trinidad and Tobago: the defeat that transformed

One of the darkest moments in Pulisic's career would be during the 2018 World Cup qualification campaign when, after a grueling defeat to Trinidad and Tobago, the USMNT failed to qualify. "That moment, it felt like the end of the world. A World Cup isn't something that comes around every day," he admitted.

Still, he feels the failure wasn't for nothing. "Everything happens for a reason. I trusted I'd have another chance at the World Cup, and that happened." This optimistic mindset set the tone for future challenges, including the tournament in Qatar four years later.

Qatar 2022: pride and frustration

The USMNT campaign at the Qatar World Cup brought moments of pride and unfinished business. Pulisic praised the performances from the team during the group stage but acknowledged they are not satisfied after elimination into the Round of 16 by the Netherlands.

"I can't say we were happy. We had some good games, we showed what we were capable of, but we didn't achieve everything we wanted," he reflected. Yet, he has no regrets. "We left everything on the field. Sure, there's always the thought of, 'If I had done this or that,' but that's part of the learning process."

This experience fueled the group’s hunger to go further. “That loss left us wanting more. We’re determined to push harder next time,” he said with determination.

USMNT Training | John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/GettyImages

The controversy surrounding Gregg Berhalter

In the aftermath of the tournament, the situation was very uncertain as Gregg Berhalter would depart as USMNT head coach. However, Pulisic didn't hold back in giving praise to the coach. "We wanted to keep growing. We felt we were in a great position and it all seemed unfair at that time," he explained.

Though he made clear that the call to bring Berhalter back wasn't down to the players, Pulisic feels continuity would have been the most logical choice. "It was never my decision or any player's decision. But from our perspective, we wanted to pick up where we left off."

Mauricio Pochettino and the Milan connection

With Mauricio Pochettino, the team gained some new drive. Pulisic pointed to the physical demands of the coach: "He's very demanding physically. Training is really intense, but at the same time, he also focuses a lot on soccer. We want to play a beautiful, attacking style," he said.

With that attitude, Pulisic matches his mentality as he constantly works to improve and be in a position to yield results, both with Milan and the USMNT.

United States Training Sessions | John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/GettyImages

Captain America: responsibility or just a nickname?

The "Captain America" nickname bestowed upon him by the veteran Zlatan Ibrahimovic reflects the lofty expectations in Pulisic. Still, he remains humble. "It's just a funny name," he said. "My friends and family don't call me that. But I know what the club and national team expect from me, and that's exactly where I want to be.

He doesn't allow that nickname to weigh upon him but rather focuses on what he does have in his hands-performance on the pitch and winning with his team. In the near future, the USMNT will depend even more upon Pulisic:

Looking ahead, Christian Pulisic is optimistic about the USMNT’s trajectory but recognizes there’s still work to be done. “I think we’re hungry and eager to grow. We’ve learned from our experiences, both good and bad, and we’re ready for the challenges ahead,” he said.

With the 2026 World Cup to be staged on home soil, expectations are through the roof. Pulisic is fully aware that he will be one of the faces of this campaign and is eager to lead the team for the second time around.

"I believe in our group and what we can achieve. We're just starting to show what we're capable of," he concluded.