Christian Pulisic suffers frustrating setback just before USMNT’s World Cup moment originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is officially underway for the United States men’s national team, but one of the program’s biggest stars is entering the tournament with some disappointing baggage from Europe.
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Christian Pulisic remains the face of the USMNT heading into the biggest summer of his career. The Hershey, Pennsylvania native has carried enormous expectations for years, and with the World Cup returning to American soil, the spotlight surrounding him has only intensified.
The good news for the United States is that Pulisic still enters the tournament as one of the team’s most accomplished and experienced players. The bad news is that his club season with AC Milan ended in brutal fashion.
AC Milan’s collapse changes the tone entering the summer
For much of the Serie A season, AC Milan appeared destined to secure one of Italy’s coveted UEFA Champions League spots. Pulisic played a major role early in the campaign and looked poised to help push Milan back among Europe’s elite clubs. The season started brilliantly for the American star. Across his opening 11 league matches, Pulisic produced eight goals and two assists while looking like one of the most dangerous attackers in Italy.
But the second half of the year told a very different story. Pulisic went scoreless over his final 20 matches while adding only two assists during that stretch. As Milan’s attack cooled off, the pressure mounted in the Serie A standings race.
Everything came crashing down during the final week of the season. AC Milan suffered a damaging 2-1 loss to Cagliari Calcio, while Como jumped ahead in the standings with a convincing win over Cremonese. That result pushed Milan down to fifth place, officially eliminating the club from Champions League qualification for the second consecutive season.
Instead of preparing for Europe’s premier competition next season, Milan will now head to the Europa League. The disappointment quickly sparked major changes inside the club, including the departure of manager Massimiliano Allegri.
Pressure on Pulisic has never been higher
The timing of Milan’s disappointing finish is impossible to ignore. Pulisic now heads directly into the World Cup carrying questions about his recent form at the club level. Even so, the USMNT still views him as the centerpiece of its attack and emotional leader entering the tournament.
Since debuting for the national team in 2016, Pulisic has scored 32 goals with 19 assists in 84 appearances for the United States. He also helped guide the Americans to the knockout stage during the 2022 FIFA World Cup before the team was eliminated by the Netherlands in the Round of 16.
Now comes an even bigger challenge. The United States opens World Cup play on June 12 against Paraguay national football team at SoFi Stadium before later facing Australia and Turkey in Group D action.
For Pulisic, the tournament represents more than just another international competition. It is a chance to erase the frustration surrounding AC Milan’s finish and remind the soccer world why he remains the most important player in American soccer history.
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