ATLANTA — Christian Pulisic said he feels the U.S. men’s national team is “closer than it may seem” after deflating back-to-back losses to Belgium and Portugal in this international window, but the attacking standout’s goal drought continues to be a major concern just over two months out from the World Cup.
The AC Milan star said he believes if he can round into form and start to finish off chances, the results could look “different” for the Americans this summer.
“We put a lot of pressure on them in the first half of both games,” Pulisic told TNT after the game. “If I finish a couple chances, and I know I’m going to, things are going to be a bit different.”
Finishing those chances is the issue. Pulisic hasn’t scored for the U.S. in eight straight matches. His last goal for the national team was November 2024 against Jamaica. According to TruMedia, Pulisic has now gone 534 minutes without scoring for the U.S., the second-longest drought of his international career. He also is yet to score in 2026 for AC Milan, with his last goal coming on Dec. 28, 2025, in Serie A against Hellas Verona.
During this window, it wasn’t for a lack of opportunity. Pulisic had several good looks in defeats to both Belgium and Portugal.
On Tuesday, he ran a nice combination with Malik Tillman in the sixth minute of the match, but saw his shot poked away by a defender. In the 22nd minute, Pulisic was in the right spot to finish off a cross from Tim Weah, only to see the ball skirt through his legs. Fourteen minutes after that, Pulisic nearly picked out the near post on a shot from outside the top of the box, but it skipped wide.
The 27-year-old Pulisic, who played 45 minutes as a striker and showed his frustration with a foul late in the first half before being substituted at halftime, maintained that he is not discouraged by the misses and dearth of goals.
“Physically, I feel really good and really sharp,” Pulisic told TNT. “I have to help my team to get assists and score goals and create chances, and obviously when I don’t do that it’s frustrating. But I feel that I’m close.”
Pulisic reiterated that belief later in the mixed zone when asked whether he harbored frustrations as he tries to break his scoring rut.
“Of course it’s frustrating, but I’m just gonna stay positive,” Pulisic said. “A lot of big things ahead, and I know when we get to the other side, things are gonna click.”
U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino also backed his star player after playing him in an atypical position as he sought to get him closer to goal to help him break out of his scoring rut.
“I think he was very active and he did a good job,” Pochettino said. “He was involved in (a lot) of actions. It was a shame he didn’t score with the opportunities he had, but it’s normal he was a little frustrated, but I think we were a little bit frustrated the whole game.”
Pulisic, like many of his teammates and his coach, insisted there were positives to take out of the window and insisting that he still has “belief in this team” despite two losses to top European opponents.
“I feel like we’re right in the game,” Pulisic told TNT. “I feel good things coming.”
Malik Tillman consoles Christian Pulisic during the USA’s loss to Portugal (Rich von Biberstein / Icon Sportswire / Getty Images)
Pulisic has been in a similar position leading into a World Cup before. He went five U.S. games without a goal leading into the Qatar World Cup, and the U.S. was blanked in its last two friendlies before the tournament. He was asked Tuesday how this camp might compare to the September 2022 camp, when the U.S. lost to Japan 2-0 and tied Saudi Arabia 0-0 in two neutral-site friendlies before group play began in Qatar.
“I remember people were doubting us at that camp, maybe we didn’t have a great camp,” he said. “And at the end of the day, we go in, we have a great World Cup, (September) is all behind us. So, like I said, better now, and we’re gonna figure it out. We’re gonna figure it out when it really counts.”
Pulisic scored the key goal of the Americans’ group performance, the winner in a 1-0 triumph over Iran that sealed their advancement. He also set up Tim Weah’s opening goal of the tournament in a 1-1 draw with Wales.
The U.S. will need Pulisic to be as impactful this summer at home if it is to entertain thoughts and hopes of a deep run in the tournament. The Hershey, Pa., native said last week that he welcomed the pressure that came with being in the U.S. spotlight.
“I wouldn’t want to be in any other position,” Pulisic said. “I’m so lucky. I feel privileged to be in this position. There’s pressure. I feel it. Yes, it’s there, but it’s nothing that I can’t handle. I’m gonna attack it head on. We are as a team. I don’t need to do it by myself. That’s the beauty of it. I have a whole team behind me, the staff, a country of fans, and I’m just going to do the best I can. That’s all I can do.”
He then insisted after the Portugal loss that he believed he — and the team — would round into form before the opener on June 12 against Paraguay.
“I feel really close,” Pulisic said Tuesday night. “And I feel like we’re in a good place. So I’m going to stay positive.”
The U.S. has little choice to turn to the power of positive thinking, but two more difficult tests remain before the World Cup kicks off. After Pochettino names his final World Cup squad on May 26, the U.S. will face Senegal and Germany in its last dress rehearsals before the results truly count. By then, Pulisic and his teammates will show if the March concern was warranted, or if the positive vibes indeed had merit.
