Christian Pulisic came into the 2026 World Cup as the USMNT’s clear star. He left with one assist and a round of 16 exit after a 4-1 loss to Belgium. That’s not what anyone expected from the best player on the roster.
But former MLS star turned analyst Taylor Twellman thinks he knows why Pulisic didn’t look like himself on the biggest stage. And the explanation goes back years before the tournament even started.
During an appearance on Barstool Sports’ “Pardon My Take” podcast, Twellman argued that the USMNT failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup fundamentally changed Pulisic’s relationship with the national team. Not his effort, but his willingness to carry the spotlight alone.
“Failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup really hurt Christian Pulisic,” Twellman said. “And I think that has changed the trajectory of him with the national team. You will never hear me say that he doesn’t care playing for the red, white, and blue. I know he does. The problem is, he doesn’t want to be that guy. He doesn’t.”
A Tale of Two Seasons
Twellman didn’t just throw out a theory. He pointed to numbers that are hard to ignore. From January 1 until the start of World Cup camp in June 2026, Pulisic had zero goal contributions. Zero. But before that, from August through December of 2025, he led Serie A in goal contributions while playing for AC Milan.
“That is 180-degrees difference. That is black and white. That is completely opposite. So, I don’t know what happened,” Twellman said.
It’s a stark split. Pulisic thrives at Milan where he’s not asked to be the focal point. Twellman described him as a guy who plays best as a third attacker, someone who can drift into space and hurt teams without the weight of being the primary threat.
That setup doesn’t exist with the USMNT. There’s no Rafael Leao or Olivier Giroud drawing defenders away. When Pulisic puts on the USA jersey, he’s the guy everyone else looks to. And according to Twellman, that’s a role he doesn’t want.
What Comes Next
The next World Cup is 2030. Pulisic will be 31 by then, still theoretically in his prime for a winger with his style. But if Twellman is right, the USMNT’s ceiling might depend on someone else emerging as the alpha by the time that tournament rolls around.
Pulisic’s talent isn’t in question. It never really has been. The question is whether he can be the guy when it matters most, or if the program needs to find a new one.
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