U.S. national team star Christian Pulisic is hoping his team’s performance at the World Cup can change the way the world views American soccer.
The USMNT will begin World Cup play on Monday against Wales before taking on England and Iran in Group B. After missing out entirely on the tournament in 2018, a new generation of American talent has arrived in Qatar with a point to prove.
“Maybe it hasn’t been the top sport back in the States and we want to change the way that the world sees American soccer – it’s one of our goals,” Pulisic told the media on Wednesday. “We haven’t been at the level of some of these world powerhouses in recent decades, but we’ve had good teams with a lot of heart. We can take it to the next step – a successful World Cup would change a lot.”
Pulisic has been one of the biggest stars on the USMNT since he was a teenager. Now 24, the pressure on the Chelsea winger will be immense as he gets set for his first World Cup.
“I feel like I’ve played in some big games. I’ve accomplished a lot. I’ve done a lot of things,” Pulisic said. “But what I want to do with the World Cup is something on top of all of that. It’s something when I was a kid in Pennsylvania growing up, 5 to 10 years old, that’s all I thought about was the World Cup.
“All those emotions and stuff that you’re not ready for, it always hits you. It hits you, and you feel it,” he said. “You feel the big moments coming every day. Laying in bed at night, when it gets a day closer, you feel it a little bit more, so that’s how it goes.”
Pulisic has played sparingly for Chelsea this season, but feels that his recent form has been strong and that he’ll arrive at the World Cup in a good moment.
“I feel great right now,” he said. “My form’s actually been really good in recent weeks I feel. So I’ve gotten some games in, [I’m] continuing to work there and improving myself there, and honestly, I feel really strong and very good and prepared going into this.”
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