USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino said he is confident forward Christian Pulisic will end his current goal drought during the 2026 World Cup.
The support from the head coach comes at a critical juncture as the U.S. prepares to co-host the tournament. Pulisic is widely considered the most talented attacker in the squad, and his ability to find the net is viewed as essential for the team's success on home soil.
Pochettino said Pulisic is "a special player" [1]. The coach's optimism persists despite a significant dip in production for the forward. Pulisic has not scored a goal for the USMNT since 2024 [2].
His struggles have extended to the club level in Italy. Pulisic has not scored for AC Milan since December 2025 [3]. Despite the lack of goals, the forward remains under contract with the Italian club until the summer of 2027 [4].
Pulisic addressed the slump in recent interviews. "I plan to score goals," Pulisic said [5]. When questioned further about the lack of scoring, he said, "I'm not concerned about it" [6].
The coach believes Pulisic's inherent talent will eventually translate back into goals. Pochettino's strategy involves integrating the forward into a system that maximizes his ability to impact games as the tournament approaches. The focus remains on ensuring the player is in peak form for the opening matches of the competition.
“"a special player"”
The public backing of Pulisic by Pochettino is an attempt to maintain the player's confidence during a historic scoring drought. Because the U.S. is co-hosting the 2026 World Cup, the pressure on the team's marquee star to perform is immense; a failure to resolve this slump could force the coaching staff to pivot their entire offensive strategy away from their primary playmaker.
