Donovan, Howard Rip Pulisic After 59th-Minute World Cup Exit in 4-1 Belgium Loss

Q: Is Christian Pulisic's World Cup failure a sign he's no longer the future of U.S. soccer?

No. Christian Pulisic’s 2026 World Cup was a major personal and symbolic failure, but it is too early to say he is no longer central to U.S. soccer. The criticism is real. Pulisic entered the tournament as the team’s focal point and did not deliver. He was ineffective against Belgium, struggled for end product across the tournament, and his post-match remark about being able to “get some rest” intensified the backlash. Former players such as Tim Howard and Carli Lloyd publicly questioned his leadership and tone, and his World Cup record remains modest: one goal in nine career appearances. But the evidence points more to a damaged moment than a finished era. Pulisic is still only 27, and his tournament was clearly affected by injury, including a calf problem that cost him the equivalent of two full games and an ankle issue against Belgium. More importantly, multiple 2030 roster projections still place him firmly in the team, often as a likely starter. At 31 in the next World Cup, he would not be unusually old for a top attacker. What may be changing is not whether Pulisic matters, but how much the U.S. can rely on him as its singular face. The 2026 exit exposed broader problems: limited depth, defensive mistakes, and a gap in top-end quality. Pulisic remains a key figure, but the “future” of U.S. soccer now looks more shared, with players such as Folarin Balogun and younger prospects expected to carry more of the burden.

3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Jul 8

Landon Donovan and Tim Howard blasted Christian Pulisic after he left the U.S. round-of-16 loss to Belgium in the 59th minute, questioning both the injury exit and his record in big matches.
Pulisic, 27, said he twisted his ankle and knee in a collision with Youri Tielemans after already missing one group game with a calf issue; Donovan said a player should have to be dragged off in a home World Cup knockout match.
Howard said past U.S. teams would pressure injured teammates to stay on, while Donovan argued Pulisic has not delivered enough decisive moments since his 2022 goal against Iran.
The criticism widened beyond Monday's 4-1 defeat: Donovan revisited Pulisic's decision to skip last summer's Gold Cup and said he has scored only one goal since December, while Howard hinted at broader concerns about him off the field.