Instead of being USMNT's biggest World Cup star, Pulisic was its biggest mystery

Christian Pulisic, widely expected to be the USMNT's standout star at the 2026 World Cup on home soil, instead delivered a disappointing and puzzling performance throughout the tournament. Despite being in his prime and playing in front of home crowds, Pulisic failed to live up to expectations, with ESPN's coverage questioning whether he alone deserves the blame for his struggles. The article examines the gap between the high hopes placed on Pulisic heading into the tournament and his ultimately underwhelming impact on the USMNT's World Cup campaign.