Can Christian Pulisic break his slump before the World Cup opener?
The U.S. men’s national team is preparing for the upcoming World Cup with two final friendly matches. Christian Pulisic, the team’s star forward, remains a key figure despite a recent scoring drought. His experience and past performances still make him a focal point as the squad gears up for their tournament opener.
Pulisic’s form has dipped sharply in recent months. After netting 10 goals in his first 15 games for AC Milan this season, he failed to score in the next 19 matches following December 28. His struggles have carried over to international play, where he has gone eight U.S. games without a goal since November 2024.
Despite this slump, coach Mauricio Pochettino has kept faith in the 25-year-old. Pulisic’s record of 32 goals in 84 international appearances remains impressive, and his past heroics—like the decisive goal against Iran in the 2022 World Cup—highlight his big-game ability. He is also the only player left from the 2017 squad that missed World Cup qualification, adding experience to a younger group. The U.S. will face Senegal on Sunday before a June 6 friendly against Germany. These matches serve as final preparations ahead of their World Cup opener against Paraguay on June 12. Defender Chris Richards, however, will miss the Senegal game while recovering from two torn ankle ligaments. The team last met in March, suffering heavy defeats—a 5-2 loss to Belgium and a 2-0 defeat to Portugal. Now, with the tournament approaching, they aim to sharpen their form in these last warm-up fixtures.
Pulisic’s goal drought raises questions, but his track record and Pochettino’s confidence suggest he could still play a crucial role in the World Cup. The U.S. will rely on his experience when they begin their campaign against Paraguay. Their final friendlies offer one last chance to build momentum before the competition starts.
