Christian Pulisic Catches Olympic Fire as USA Star Eyes Historic 2026 World Cup Glory
Christian Pulisic's thoughts turned to June as he watched from the stands while the United States men's hockey squad defeated Germany 5-1 at the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics on Saturday, understanding exactly what it means to don the Stars and Stripes for this summer's World Cup.
"There's always tension in major competitions, whether representing your club or nation, but when you suit up for your country, there's always that additional surge of pride wearing a Team USA jersey," Pulisic shared with NHL Network. "It's the ultimate achievement. It's when I feel most proud during competition... It's truly remarkable."
After recovering from injury for AC Milan on Friday evening, playing 13 minutes as a substitute in a 2–1 victory over Pisa, Pulisic ensured he experienced the Team USA atmosphere and the Olympics in his adopted city during his free time.
He's not the only non-Winter Olympic competitor or famous figure doing so, with 11-time Olympic medalist gymnast Simone Biles watching figure skating previously, Cleveland Browns standout Myles Garrett cheering on his snowboarder partner, Chloe Kim, and numerous other celebrities—Snoop Dogg, Usher, Flava Flav and Stanley Tucci among them—appearing throughout the Games.
However, attending a hockey match isn't unfamiliar territory for Pulisic. Though Milan isn't recognized for its hockey culture, Pulisic was present at the 2025 Stanley Cup finals, where he witnessed two Team USA stars, Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, capture their second Stanley Cup title.
The World Cup Stage at the Olympics
The World Cup Stage at the Olympics
As an elite professional athlete at the pinnacle of his sport, already possessing World Cup experience, Pulisic's international achievements representing his nation have consistently exceeded what most NHL players have accomplished.
Before 2026, NHL athletes hadn't participated in the Olympic Games since 2014, leaving few competitors in the tournament with any background in the pressures of top-level international competition.
"I've likely been to fewer than 15 [hockey matches], and the majority were Hershey Bears contests," Pulisic explained, having been raised with the minor league team affiliated with the Washington Capitals in his native Hershey, Pennsylvania. "I'm eager to attend more NHL contests and I did make it to the Stanley Cup Finals last year to watch Florida."
While it remains uncertain if Pulisic will appear at additional Team USA events or activities, he witnessed the American men secure a commanding victory over Germany, clinching first place in Group B and earning a bye to the quarterfinals as the No. 2 seed. They now wait for the victor between Sweden and Latvia, who meet in a single-elimination qualification match on Tuesday.
For Pulisic, however, simply witnessing American competitors on the grandest stage fills him with anticipation for what lies ahead.
"Just watching these athletes perform what they're accomplishing, competing at the elite level in their discipline, and representing Team USA. It certainly provides me with additional motivation," he concluded. "It makes me enthusiastic for this summer."