World Cup Watch: How USA's Christian Pulisic is Embracing the 'Pressure'
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MARIETTA, Georgia — Christian Pulisic has been in this position before. The 2022 World Cup goalscorer has been a U.S. men’s national team starter for nearly a decade now. He’s won the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea. He's one of the faces for both the USA team and AC Milan, one of the most storied clubs in soccer history. Now, with the USA set to play its final two tuneups — the first against powerful Belgium on Saturday — before coach Mauricio Pochettino names his final 26-player roster for this summer’s World Cup on home soil. The anticipation for the tournament – the largest in its history with 48 teams spread across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada – has ratcheted up significantly. Even for a mainstay like Pulisic. "You can feel the intensity in the trainings," the team's headliner said before practicing on Friday at the facility of MLS side Atlanta United. "All the guys are wanting to really stake their claim, and they want to be on that World Cup roster. There's no doubt about it. Everyone wants to prove themselves." It’s been more than four months Pochettino’s squad last convened, when they routed Uruguay in November to finish 2025 on a three-game win streak and unbeaten in five — all against nations that will participate in this World Cup. Star-studded Belgium and Portugal, which the Americans will face on Tuesday in the second of two matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, will provide an even sterner test. Both opponents are ranked in FIFA’s Top 10, and will be part of the field this summer. Convincing performances in Georgia’s capital could capture the imagination of fans and do wonders for the team’s confidence and momentum ahead of the main event. - USA Kits Revealed: ‘Stars’ and ‘Stripes’- USA's World Cup Schedule: Opponents, Times- 2026 World Cup Schedule: All Teams, How to Watch The goal over the next week, as veteran left back Antonee "Jedi" Robinson said, is: "Making sure we put in two performances against very good opposition and kind of sending the me
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MARIETTA, Georgia — Christian Pulisic has been in this position before. The 2022 World Cup goalscorer has been a U.S. men’s national team starter for nearly a decade now. He’s won the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea. He's one of the faces for both the USA team and AC Milan, one of the most storied clubs in soccer history. Now, with the USA set to play its final two tuneups — the first against powerful Belgium on Saturday — before coach Mauricio Pochettino names his final 26-player roster for this summer’s World Cup on home soil. The anticipation for the tournament – the largest in its history with 48 teams spread across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada – has ratcheted up significantly. Even for a mainstay like Pulisic. "You can feel the intensity in the trainings," the team's headliner said before practicing on Friday at the facility of MLS side Atlanta United. "All the guys are wanting to really stake their claim, and they want to be on that World Cup roster. There's no doubt about it. Everyone wants to prove themselves." It’s been more than four months Pochettino’s squad last convened, when they routed Uruguay in November to finish 2025 on a three-game win streak and unbeaten in five — all against nations that will participate in this World Cup. Star-studded Belgium and Portugal, which the Americans will face on Tuesday in the second of two matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, will provide an even sterner test. Both opponents are ranked in FIFA’s Top 10, and will be part of the field this summer. Convincing performances in Georgia’s capital could capture the imagination of fans and do wonders for the team’s confidence and momentum ahead of the main event. - USA Kits Revealed: ‘Stars’ and ‘Stripes’- USA's World Cup Schedule: Opponents, Times- 2026 World Cup Schedule: All Teams, How to Watch The goal over the next week, as veteran left back Antonee "Jedi" Robinson said, is: "Making sure we put in two performances against very good opposition and kind of sending the me
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