Christian Pulisic Confident Goal Will End Before World Cup Despite Drought

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Christian Pulisic accepts recent United States displays have fallen below expectations and acknowledges the current goal drought, yet the AC Milan forward insists confidence remains high and predicts the wait for an international goal will end before the World Cup, despite going seven USA matches without scoring and missing in the 5-2 defeat against Belgium.

While goals have dried up, Pulisic believes overall performances still show progress and remains determined to treat this spell as temporary rather than a serious slump, stressing that staying calm and focused is more important than reacting to short-term numbers as the national team continues preparations for the tournament.

At international level, Pulisic last scored for the USA against New Zealand in November 2024, and did not feature in last year’s Concacaf Gold Cup campaign, when several senior players were absent as the squad still advanced to the final before losing, which delayed any chance to build momentum with the national side.

Pulisic’s club season with AC Milan still contains strong attacking output, with 10 goals and three assists in 27 matches across all competitions, yet the winger has now gone 12 club appearances without scoring since converting against Verona in Milan’s final match of 2025, despite a continued high volume of attempts on goal.

During this goalless Milan stretch, Pulisic has taken 29 shots with a combined expected goals figure of 3.4, underlining that chances continue to arrive even if finishing has dipped, while a similar pattern has emerged with the USA, where strong involvement in attacking phases has not recently produced goals.

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Christian Pulisic performance against Belgium

Against Belgium, Pulisic recorded seven touches inside the opposition penalty area, more than any other USA player, but none of three efforts on goal, worth 0.2 expected goals in total, hit the target, and Pulisic won just one of five duels, although 14 final-third passes, level with Malik Tillman, and one created chance showed influence.

Reflecting on this run, Pulisic outlined mixed emotions after the Belgium loss, balancing frustration with belief. "It's frustrating for me; it's been a tough patch. But I feel confident in the way I'm playing," Pulisic said. "I feel good, and I'm creating chances. So I just have to stay positive and keep going."

Christian Pulisic mentality and response

Pulisic stressed that mindset will be crucial during the coming weeks with the World Cup approaching. "I don't like to think of it, really, as a rough patch. To be honest, even in the second half, I felt really good and sharp." Pulisic plans to treat the Belgium match as a learning exercise rather than a setback.

Pulisic described the next steps clearly, linking video review with tactical work before the next friendly. "I'll see where things went wrong, I guess, and work to improve them, and come up with a plan. Then we'll fight to get a good result and put it behind us. I know a ball will hit off my knee and go in, and then things will change. So I'm not going to panic. Better now than this summer. Things are going to change."

Christian Pulisic backing from coaching staff

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino expressed support for Pulisic’s contribution beyond goals, emphasising work rate and influence on team structure. "Christian is playing. And of course, he's not scoring, but for me, it's not only [about] goals." "For me, I am happy with him; in the way that he's performing, in the way that he's committed to the team, and in the time that he's playing."

The USA now turn attention to facing Portugal in Atlanta on Tuesday, where Pulisic is expected to play a central role again, and the winger hopes that continued involvement in dangerous areas, both for club and country, will soon convert into goals as preparation intensifies for the World Cup later in the year.