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In the latest episode of Mic'd Up, former United States Men’s National Team midfielder Stu Holden shared his views on Christian Pulisic’s current form, the U.S. team’s World Cup prospects, and why he believes Portugal could make a deep run in what might be Cristiano Ronaldo’s final World Cup appearance. He also spoke about Mauricio Pochettino’s role and the long-term effect of the tournament on American soccer.

Holden believes that the upcoming summer presents a defining moment for football in the U.S. “We’re about to see a new generation of football fans emerge,” he said. “People here will experience the game differently — live, up close — and these moments will shape future generations.”

Born in Scotland but raised in Houston, Holden grew up passionate about football and went on to represent the United States at the highest level. This summer, he will be involved as an ambassador for On Location’s FIFA hospitality programme and as a Fox Sports commentator. With his deep involvement in the event, Holden says the World Cup could be the biggest sporting spectacle ever hosted and one that has the potential to transform the sport’s profile in the country.

Turning to the U.S. team, Holden admitted that Christian Pulisic’s recent dip in form for Milan has raised eyebrows, but he remains confident. “Before the 2022 World Cup, he had just one goal in 18 games and was on a five-match drought with the national team, yet he ended up having a great tournament. That gives me confidence,” Holden explained.

He noted that Pulisic’s performances often reflect his emotional state. “Christian is a difficult player to analyse because so much of his performance depends on his happiness and mental well-being. Mental health plays a huge role in modern football,” he said. “Even though he’s currently on an eight-game scoring drought for the U.S., I’ve seen enough to believe he’ll deliver when it matters.”

Holden added that Weston McKennie’s rise has helped ease pressure on Pulisic. “McKennie has become the most important player in the team, which takes some of the weight off Christian’s shoulders. Pulisic doesn’t have to be the only star for us to succeed,” he said.

On Pulisic’s inconsistency, Holden remarked, “The difference between great players and the legends is consistency at the top level. Christian’s highs and lows are wider than those of elite players. He was among Serie A’s best for six months, and now he’s struggling for starts — that’s what he must overcome.”

Discussing coach Mauricio Pochettino, Holden believes the Argentine’s impact will ultimately be judged by the World Cup. “This is his legacy moment. U.S. Soccer hired him to take the team further than ever before. We’ve reached the Round of 16 and once the quarterfinals, but we need more. Pochettino is learning how to get the best out of American players while reshaping their mentality,” he said.

He added that the team must adopt a more competitive mindset. “Germany book their hotels through to the final — that’s the mentality we need. We might not match the world’s top sides in talent, but we can outfight and outwork them. That’s where our advantage lies.”

Turning to his tournament predictions, Holden sees Portugal as strong contenders. “Portugal are the best team never to have won a World Cup, and I think they’re ready to join that elite club,” he said. “They’re complete in every area and have a 40-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo who can still change a game in an instant. I saw it firsthand in the Nations League final against Spain — he barely touched the ball before scoring the winner.”

Holden praised Portugal’s depth, mentioning players like Vitinha, Joao Neves, Paulinha, Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Dias, Jose Sa, and Nuno Mendes. “They have so much quality across the pitch, and their midfield might be the best in the world,” he said. “I genuinely believe Portugal are in better form than Argentina right now. Messi carried Argentina to a World Cup, but Portugal don’t depend solely on Ronaldo. Their balance gives them an edge.”

When asked whether Major League Soccer (MLS) is ready to capitalise on the World Cup, Holden said, “MLS has been preparing for this for years. It’s not a quick bump — the league’s growth is built on years of investment in youth academies, expansion teams, and MLS Next Pro. The 1994 World Cup gave birth to MLS in 1995; this one could spark another wave of growth.”

He believes the exposure will inspire many new fans. “Fans watching on Fox Sports will get a taste of world-class football, and hopefully they’ll want to experience it locally — whether that’s LAFC, the Galaxy, Cincinnati, or Columbus Crew. The key is to keep investing after the World Cup and connect with communities so that kids grow up as lifelong fans,” he said.

Finally, Holden named his pick to win the tournament: France. “It might sound obvious since they’ve reached two straight finals and won one, but France’s depth is unmatched. Even players like Camavinga, who represents Real Madrid, might not make the squad. They can field two teams capable of reaching the semifinals,” he said. “With Mbappe in his prime and a new generation ready to step up, France are my clear favourites to lift the World Cup.”