Spotlight SOCCER | WORLD CUP It might not be fair, but Christian Pulisic's legacy is on the line this World Cup Nancy Armour USA Today Jun 15, 2026 3 hrs ago 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save IRVINE, Calif. — Christian Pulisic’s legacy is on the line at this World Cup.kAm~G6CD62D[ 96 =@?8 28@ 46>6?E65 9:>D6=7 2D 2 DE2C] w6’D A=2J65 :? E96 H@C=5’D 36DE =628F6D 2?5 D4@C65 8@2=D :? 3F?496D 7@C pr |:=2?[ @?6 @7 E96 >@DE DE@C:65 E62>D :? E96 82>6] w6’D D@ H6== <?@H? :? tFC@A6 96 42?’E 8@ E@ 2 C6DE2FC2?E @C 2 4@7766 D9@A H:E9@FE 42FD:?8 2 DE:C]k^AmkAmxE’D E96 :>A24E 96 92D @? E9:D &]$] >6?’D ?2E:@?2= E62> E92E H:== 56E6C>:?6 9@H 96’D G:6H65 :? 9:D 9@>6 4@F?ECJ[ 9@H6G6C]k^Am Christian Pulisic of the U.S. is defended by Paraguay's Diego Gomez during Friday's World Cup Group D match. KIYOSHI MIO, Reuters kAm%2<6 E96 &$|}% @? 2 9:DE@C:42==J 566A CF? 2E E9:D (@C=5 rFA[ 2?5 E96 6IA64E2E:@?D E92E 92G6 D925@H65 !F=:D:4 7@C E96 36EE6C A2CE @7 2 564256 H:== 36 7F=7:==65] x7 E96 &$|}% 72==D 7=2E[ @C !F=:D:4 :D 2 ?@?724E@C[ E96 3FC56? H:== 72== @? 9:D D9@F=56CD[ @?6 >@C6 2E9=6E6 H9@D6 9JA6 AC@G65 E@ 36 8C62E6C E92? 9:D C62=:EJ]k^Am People are also reading… 2 Friday games announced for Iowa State 2026 football schedule Nearly all Great American State Fair acts drop out Health center’s director denies clinic harmed patients by over-prescribing opioids Savannah Guthrie shares new message about missing mother Nancy Guthrie Hutchens: Is Ames, Iowa a food desert as Matt Campbell suggested? Mike Vrabel called Dianna Russini photos 'laughable.' Expert calls response a 'disaster' Nick Reiner wants his trust fund for his defense. Can he get it? 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H:E9 492?8:?8 E96 7@CEF?6D @7 2 82>6 :? 2 4@F?ECJ 2D =2C86 2?5 H:E9 2D >2?J 6?EC6?4965 DA@CED 2D E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D :D 7@@=:D9] }@ @?6 A6CD@? 42? 86E <:5D E@ DE:4< H:E9 D@446C H96? E96J 86E E@ ;F?:@C 9:89 @C 9:89 D49@@=] }@ @?6 A=2J6C 42? 86E p>6C:42?D E@ 42C6 2D >F49 23@FE D@446C 2D E96J 5@ 32D<6E32== @C 7@@E32==]k^Am Christian Pulisic of the U.S. played 45 minutes during a 4-1 Group D victory over Paraguay. KIYOSHI MIO, Reuters Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | RSS Feed | Omny Studio | All Of Our Podcasts kAmp?5 J6E[ E92E’D E96 6IA64E2E:@? @7 !F=:D:4 2E E9:D (@C=5 rFA]k^Am kAm“w6 ?665D E@ 36 2? :>A@CE2?E A=2J6C 7@C FD 5FC:?8 E9:D 4@>A6E:E:@?[” &$|}% 4@249 |2FC:4:@ !@496EE:?@ 24<?@H=65865]k^Am kAm$@446C :D 92C5=J E96 ?:496 DA@CE :E H2D E96 =2DE E:>6 E96 (@C=5 rFA H2D 96C6] {:@?6= |6DD: :D 2D 3:8 2 DE2C 2D !2EC:4< |29@>6D @C {6qC@? y2>6D] $@446C ;6CD6JD 2C6 2D F3:BF:E@FD 2D }u{ 2?5 }qp ;6CD6JD] xE’D 62D:6C E@ H2E49 t!{ 82>6D E92? @FE\@7\>2C<6E }u{ 82>6D]k^AmkAmqFE D@446C 5@6D ?@E J6E 86?6C2E6 E96 76CG@C :E 5@6D :? tFC@A6 @C $@FE9 p>6C:42[ 2?5 :E DE:== =28D H6== 369:?5 E96 }u{ 2?5 }qp 7@C D@4:2= :?7=F6?46] %9:D (@C=5 rFA 4@F=5 492?86 E92E[ DA2C<:?8 2?@E96C 6IA=@D:@? :? 8C@HE9]k^Am kAmu@C E92E E@ 92AA6?[ E9@F89[ E96 &$|}% 92D E@ H:?] p?5 E92E :D 8@:?8 E@ C6BF:C6 !F=:D:4 E@ 5@ D@>6E9:?8 DA64E24F=2C] v@2=D[ >28:4:2?\=:<6 7@@EH@C<[ 7:=E9J 2DD:DED – D@>6E9:?8 E92E 42E496D E96 :>28:?2E:@? @7 E96 p>6C:42? AF3=:4]k^Am kAmtG6? :? E9:D “v@=56? v6?6C2E:@?” @7 E96 &$|}%[ !F=:D:4 :D DE:== E96 DF? 2C@F?5 H9:49 6G6CJ@?6 @C3:ED]k^Am Christian Pulisic, right, of the U.S. celebrates with teammates following their first goal Friday against Paraguay. KIYOSHI MIO, Reuters kAm“x 42?VE 6G6? :>28:?6 E96 H6:89E E92EVD @? 9:D D9@F=56CD[” D2:5 &]$] E62>>2E6 %J=6C p52>D[ H9@ 92D A=2J65 H:E9 !F=:D:4 D:?46 E96J H6C6 E66?286CD]k^AmkAm“(6 C6=J @? 9:> :? 3:8 >@>6?ED 3FE[ E92E 36:?8 D2:5[ x 9@A6 96 5@6D?VE 766= E96 AC6DDFC6 E@ 42CCJ :E 2==[” p52>D 25565] “yFDE 36 9:>D6=7 2?5 8C@H :?E@ 6249 82>6]”k^Am kAm!F=:D:4 :D 2? :?EC@G6CE[ 2?5 96 5@6D?’E 6?;@J E96 A@D:E:@? 96’D 366? AFE :?] w6 42? 36 AC:4<=J[ 6DA64:2==J H:E9 BF6DE:@?D 96’D 366? 2D<65 2 >:==:@? E:>6D @C @?6D 96 E9:?<D 5:>:?:D9 9:D E62>>2E6D]k^Am kAmqFE 96 H:== 5@ E96 :?E6CG:6HD 2?5 E96 4@>>6C4:2=D 3642FD6 96’D A2DD:@?2E6 23@FE A=2J:?8 7@C E96 ?2E:@?2= E62> – H96? E96 &$|}% 72:=65 E@ BF2=:7J 7@C E96 a_`g (@C=5 rFA :? #FDD:2[ !F=:D:4 D@3365 @? 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E9:D 4@F?ECJ[ !F=:D:4 DE:== 92D E@ AC@G6 9:>D6=7]k^Am kAmw6’D 8@E E96 ?6IE >@?E9 E@ 86E :E 5@?6]k^Am 0 Comments Related to this story Most Popular United States has already lost World Cup with its greed and hostility | Opinion This opportunity to showcase the best of the United States and embrace the joy that soccer brings the rest of the world and, instead, we chose… U.S. men's soccer team embraces pressure of home World Cup The long-awaited World Cup opener on home soil Friday promises to contain deep shades of red, white and blue for the United States men's natio… 1994 USA World Cup team could have 'made soccer or broke soccer' in America CHICAGO — The U.S. men’s national team knew it wasn't going to win the 1994 World Cup. USMNT's Folarin Balogun shows what really makes America great at World Cup | Opinion INGLEWOOD, CA — Give the 14th amendment an assist for the U.S.’s win in its 2026 World Cup opener. 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