Pochettino Sends Warning Shot to Pulisic as 2026 World Cup Battle Heats Up

Mauricio Pochettino emphasized that the U.S. men's national team transcends any individual player and holds greater significance as they prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

While the Stars and Stripes' head coach didn't specifically mention Christian Pulisic, his emphatic remarks added to the ongoing debate about the AC Milan forward's dedication to the USMNT.

Pulisic, alongside numerous other top American talents, was absent from last summer's Gold Cup, which left Pochettino working with a roster primarily composed of MLS players and other less established talents who are usually passed over in favor of stars like USMNT captain, Weston McKennie, Folarin Balogun and Antonee Robinson.

Despite the squad finishing as runners-up after a 2–1 loss to Mexico in the championship match, the tournament provided valuable lessons that helped establish the team culture Pochettino wanted to build with the national side.

"The crest, the federation, the national colors matter more than any individual name, and I believe we demonstrated that with quality players ... you can compete and potentially accomplish your objectives," Pochettino stated on the U.S. Soccer Podcast during the 2025 U.S. Soccer Summit.

"We encountered challenges we hadn't anticipated," assistant coach Jesús Pérez noted. "However, that provided us the chance to discover new things and offer opportunities to other [players] in various situations and now that's the time when those experiences collectively help the team understand that the badge holds the highest importance.

"To earn a spot on this squad, you must prove you deserve it."

Pulisic Seeks Impressive USMNT Comeback in March

Following his Gold Cup absence, Pulisic rejoined the USMNT for September's international fixtures. The 27-year-old had difficulty making his mark in the team's 2–0 loss to South Korea, but responded positively by providing an assist in the Stars and Stripes' 2–0 victory over Japan.

Physical issues restricted Pulisic to just a brief substitute appearance against Ecuador in October's international window, before a hamstring problem forced his withdrawal from the Australia match.

The captain regained fitness for November's games, but chose to focus on complete recovery with backing from Pochettino and the USMNT staff. The Stars and Stripes proceeded to secure impressive wins against Paraguay and Uruguay.

With fixtures against Portugal and Belgium scheduled for March, Pulisic aims to make a strong comeback and help the USMNT reach peak performance before the 2026 World Cup on American territory. He will undoubtedly want to put an end to questions about his national team dedication.

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