The U.S. men’s national team went from riding high after the group stage to getting knocked out in the round of 16 by Belgium. The final score was 4-1, and it wasn’t that close. A red card reversal from FIFA — reportedly pushed through after a call from the U.S. president — briefly gave fans hope. But the defense couldn’t hold, and Belgium walked through them in the second half.
Since then, the criticism has been loud. And nobody’s been louder than Alexi Lalas.
On his State of the Union podcast, Lalas didn’t hold back when asked about Christian Pulisic and whether he can still be the face of the program. The answer was complicated.
Pulisic’s Brand Took a Hit
Lalas started by acknowledging Pulisic’s club career. The guy has played for Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, and now AC Milan. He’s scored around 33 goals in roughly 90 appearances for the USMNT. That’s not nothing. Lalas said Pulisic could still end up as the best American male player ever, but he made it clear that club stats alone won’t get him there.
“He is yet to have that World Cup moment that transcends and surpasses all of his club accomplishments,” Lalas said. “It remains to be seen whether going forward this team is going to be built around Christian Pulisic.”
That last part stings. Because for years, the answer was obvious: yes, you build around him. Now, it’s a real question.
Lalas also brought up the accusations that have followed Pulisic — the whispers about him being soft, the questions about his fitness, the nagging injuries. He pointed out that this World Cup run didn’t help. “This has hurt his brand. This has hurt the perception of who he is as the face and Captain America.”
He didn’t sugarcoat it. “That’s not going to go away, and that is now on his resume.”
What Comes Next for the USMNT
Pulisic is 27. He’s not old, but he’s not a kid anymore either. The next World Cup will come when he’s 31, which is still doable for a player who relies more on intelligence and technique than raw speed. But the team around him is going to change. A lot of guys from this cycle will be gone or past their primes.
Lalas said Pulisic still has a lot to give. And he left the door open for a redemption arc. “Maybe the next World Cup ends up being his World Cup.” But he also made it clear that the current setup — with Pulisic as the unquestioned star and everything running through him — probably needs to evolve.
The loss to Belgium exposed some things. The midfield got overrun. The back line looked disorganized. And Pulisic, for all his talent, couldn’t drag the team across the finish line by himself. That’s not entirely his fault. One guy can only do so much. But when you’re the face of a program, you get the blame when things go wrong, fair or not.
Fans online have been split. Some say it’s time to start building around younger guys like Gio Reyna or Folarin Balogun. Others argue Pulisic is still the best option — just one who needs more help. Either way, the conversation has shifted.
The U.S. Soccer Federation hasn’t said anything publicly about a long-term plan yet. But Lalas didn’t need an official statement to read the room. “I think there is going to be a lot of change when it comes to this team going forward.”
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