As the 2022 World Cup nears, there are plenty of U.S.-centric eyeballs affixed to Christian Pulisic and everything he does—and does not—do for club and country. Such is his importance to the U.S. men’s national team and its chances in Qatar.
After the U.S.’s pair of lackluster friendly showings against World Cup–bound teams, one of which Pulisic missed, the Chelsea winger didn’t seem particularly concerned. He preached the opposite of panic, embraced the “fresh start” that the World Cup will present and issued a challenge both to himself and his countrymen for the seven weeks ahead.
“It’s everyone for themselves in a sense,” he said, as players returned to their clubs for the final stretch before the World Cup break. “But that’s the message that we have to send: Do everything that you can to prepare your body physically, mentally, as best you can to be prepared once that time comes. And if everyone does that, I think we’re going to be in good shape for the World Cup.”
