‘Captain America’ Pulisic Backs USMNT Depth Before 2026 World Cup
USMNT star Pulisic says team ‘in a good place’ before 2026 World Cup. Opens June 12 vs Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
AC Milan star Pulisic says 2026 World Cup on home soil adds extra motivation. First goal: advance from group, take it one game at a time...
Christian Pulisic says the current United States team is the strongest he’s played with, with the AC Milan forward noting the squad’s quality and depth should give Americans plenty of optimism ahead of the 2026 World Cup on home soil.
Long the face of US soccer, Pulisic said the team is in a good place as attention builds for the tournament set to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
“I think you could say so,” Pulisic said when asked if this was the best US team he has been a part of.
“Looking at the guys playing at the highest levels and doing extremely well at their clubs, and I think for sure you have a really, really strong squad and depth as well,” he said.
“Multiple guys that can play in every position. It's a very strong team.”
Pulisic and coach Mauricio Pochettino are set to lead a roster projected to feature forwards Folarin Balogun and Tim Weah, midfielders Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams, defenders Tim Ream and Chris Richards, and goalkeepers Matt Freese and Matt Turner.
For Pulisic, who spoke to reporters during a partnership with deodorant brand Degree, the opportunity to play a World Cup on home soil adds extra motivation for the sport’s biggest stage.
“A World Cup is enough motivation in itself and having it in the US, having my family and close friends there, there's just nothing more you can ask for,” he said.
Playing on Home Soil
The 27-year-old said he’s counting on American fans to give the team a big boost once the tournament kicks off. The U.S. opens against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
“I know the energy in the stadiums is going to be great,” he said. “We want to take as much of that as we can, take that motivation and push to make the American people proud.”
Pulisic, who has played for the U.S. since he was a teenager, said putting on the national team jersey still means a lot to him.
“Representing the US and being able to wear that crest, I don't take it lightly,” he said.
“It's something I've been doing since I was 17 years old... I'm very proud to be an American and am grateful for everything this country has given me. I just want to give everything back and hopefully make some people proud.”
Reaching for the Stars. ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/VHq1Uxcm8h
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) March 31, 2026
Captain America Handling the Spotlight
As one of the most recognizable players in U.S. soccer history, Pulisic has often been tagged with nicknames like “Captain America” and viewed as the public face of the men’s game in the country. But he said he tries to block out that chatter instead of leaning into it.
“I'd say I definitely tune it out,” he said. “It's not something I look into too much. I worry about what I can do and how I can help my team and how I can help us win.”
He said his leadership now comes from setting the standard through his work, not through speeches.
“I hope what I do from a day-to-day perspective, in training every single day, the way that I work, I hope I can show people my dedication to the team and lead by example,” he said.
Pulisic also said he doesn’t feel weighed down by any larger duty to be the sport’s standard-bearer in the United States, even though he hopes to inspire the next generation of players.
“I'm focused on doing my job,” he said. “If I can inspire some people along the way, that's amazing. That pushes me and I hope to do that. But I don't feel pressure to do it.”
Our @FIFAWorldCup group is officially set. ☑️ pic.twitter.com/xavZOsQfvm
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) April 8, 2026
With expectations rising for the co-hosts, Pulisic wouldn’t tie success to a specific result, saying the first goal is to get out of the group stage and then take the tournament one game at a time.
Still, his message to supporters was direct.
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