Top News

In an exclusive conversation, former United States goalkeeper Brad Friedel has urged fans and media to tone down the hype surrounding Christian Pulisic, often dubbed the “poster boy” of American football. While acknowledging Pulisic’s importance, Friedel identified four other players who he believes are equally vital in the USMNT’s ‘undroppable’ group as the nation prepares for its home World Cup.

The United States are widely viewed as having entered a ‘Golden Generation’ of footballing talent, with hopes running high for a strong showing when the World Cup kicks off on June 11. Mauricio Pochettino’s men will begin their campaign against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on the tournament’s second day.

Pulisic, who recently ended a 21-match goal drought, found the net in a 3-2 win against Senegal — his first goal of the calendar year. The team next faces Germany in a warm-up friendly on Saturday, offering another chance to fine-tune preparations.

Since joining AC Milan from Chelsea in 2023, the 27-year-old forward has achieved personal bests in scoring but has endured a challenging start to 2026. His last Serie A goal came on December 28, 2025, marking an extended lean spell before his recent return to form.

That breakthrough against Senegal ended a frustrating run of 21 matches without scoring for club or country. The timing of his resurgence could not be better, coming just before the world’s biggest football event returns to North America.

Although Pulisic remains the team’s most prominent figure, Friedel emphasized that the burden of expectation should not rest solely on his shoulders. He pointed out that several other USMNT stars, all playing in Europe, have the quality and temperament to shine under the global spotlight.

When asked whether Pulisic’s place in the starting lineup is guaranteed regardless of club form, Friedel explained: “What’s really important is that players don’t assign their own price tags. When he [Pulisic] moved for £60 million, the social media frenzy made everyone think he had to be the best at everything — the leader, the star, the face of the team. But not everyone is built to lead.”

He further added: “In my view, people should ease off him, remove the pressure, and let him simply enjoy his football. That’s when we’ll see the best version of Christian Pulisic. Being the poster boy and constantly in front of cameras brings a lot of stress.”

Friedel underlined the importance of maintaining fitness among key players, saying: “For me, it’s crucial that Chris Richards stays fit. It’s vital that Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams, and Weston McKennie are all fit. These are the players who, in my opinion, are closer to being undroppable. If you have those four guys available, others can rotate around them, while they shoulder most of the pressure and criticism — something they’re all capable of handling.”

As the countdown to 2026 continues, excitement is building around how far this USMNT squad can go on home soil. With Pulisic, Adams, and McKennie leading from the front, the team could emerge as dark horses capable of progressing deep into the knockout stages of the expanded World Cup.

Reaching the last-32 will be the minimum expectation, but once the knockout rounds begin, anything can happen. If Pulisic has truly regained his spark, the USMNT could produce a memorable run alongside a collection of teammates ready to shine at football’s grandest stage.