Christian Pulisic's goal ahead of the 2026 World Cup is to just stay cool."I mean, you guys want me to feel the pressure that’s for sure," the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team forward told reporters at a March press conference. "There’s pressure. It’s a World Cup. It’s not because of my position in the team or anything. I’m used to this. I wouldn’t want to be in any other position. I’m so lucky. I feel privileged to be in this position."And while he recognizes the weight of this moment, he’s made it clear "it’s nothing I can’t handle.""I’m going to attack it head on," Pulisic—nicknamed "Captain America" by fans—continued. "We are as a team. I don’t need to do it by myself. That’s the beauty of it."Still, he’s coached himself to tune out the noise."I'd say, at this point in my career, it's not much of a struggle for me," the athlete added, per ESPN. "I've gotten pretty used to it. I've just deleted most social media off my phone. It's pretty easy. I just try to avoid it."
While this marks Pulisic's second World Cup, soccer isn’t his entire world (albeit a huge part of it)."Once I step away from the field and from training every day, my life’s not all soccer," he recently told People. "That’s kind of how I want it to be. Then once it’s time to train and play games, that’s when I lock in."When Pulisic isn’t on the field, he’s likely on the golf course."My dad kind of introduced me to the sport when I was really young," the 27-year-old said in U.S. Soccer’s 26 Stories to ’26 series, "and, yeah, I just always kind of liked it."Pulisic also admitted he’s "addicted" to chess. And while fans can often find him on the pitch, he’s learned a thing or two about pitch from teaching himself guitar too."I picked up the guitar probably my second or third year in Germany," the Borussia Dortmund alum said in a 2022 Bose campaign. "I’ve never had a lesson. It’s mainly just me learning on YouTube and different apps."
Other ways to score some points with Pulisic? Put on the movie The Big Green—which he told U.S. Soccer is his favorite film—or give him some Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups."These are just my favorite chocolate candy, my go-to snack," the AC Milan star told GQ in 2021. "Growing up in Hershey, Pennsylvania, you know I gotta represent the Reese’s Cups."And while Pulisic wears a jersey on the pitch—no. 10 for Team USA—he has his own uniform for when he’s off the field, which includes a white T-shirt, sneakers (he has a deal with PUMA) and his cross chain.“This is the most special one to me because my mom gave me this,” the former Chelsea player added, “and I pretty much have it on all the time.”
In addition to his mom Kelley Pulisic and dad Mark Pulisic—who both played soccer in college—Pulisic’s family roster includes his sister Devyn Pulisic and brother Chase Gallant. And up until recently, his inner squad also included Alexa Melton, who he started dating after he slid into her DMs."I got the DM, and I was like, 'Who is this dude with 8 million followers, and why is he DM’ing me?'" the pro golfer shared in the 2024 Paramount+ docuseries Pulisic. "I scrolled through his old Instagram. I was like, 'Oh, he’s a big-time soccer player.'"But earlier this year, news broke that Melton and Pulisic had split and her cryptic Instagram message sparked rumors that he had been unfaithful. After a commenter, per USA Today, wrote, "This generational fumble will be studied for years to come," the 25-year-old replied, "Mans was on raya before it even ended." However, Melton later shut down the cheating speculation. "I’ve made some comments on a private matter and it’s been taken out of context," she wrote on her Instagram Stories in April. "I received false info. He is not a cheater. Any narrative beyond that is not mine. Out of respect for Christian’s and my privacy, I will not speak further regarding this matter."And while Pulisic has also stayed tight-lipped on the breakup, he’s expressed how he has nothing but respect for Melton."I only look at her in the most positive way," he told TIME in a piece published in May. "She was a lot of fun, and she supported me in every way. She wanted to push me to enjoy my life a little bit more and do things with her and do things just in general. And I was grateful for that."
However, Pulisic did shut down reports in December that claimed he was seeing Sydney Sweeney, who's now dating Scooter Braun. "Fake news guys," the goalscorer clarified underneath an Instagram post, "let’s stop with the silly rumor."As the U.S. kicks off their 2026 World Cup run with a game against Paraguay, keep reading to meet the rest of the team.
Position: ForwardAge: 27Height: 5’ 10”Hometown: Hershey, Pa.Current Soccer Club: AC Milan (Italy)
Position: MidfielderAge: 28Height: 6’ 1”Hometown: Little Elm, TexasCurrent Soccer Club: Juventus (Italy)
Position: MidfielderAge: 23Height: 6’ 1”Hometown: Bedford, N.Y.Current Soccer Club: Borussia Mönchengladbach (Germany)
Position: MidfielderAge: 27Height: 5’ 9”Hometown: Wappingers Falls, N.Y.Current Soccer Club: AFC Bournemouth (England)
Position: GoalkeeperAge: 22Height: 6’ 3”Hometown: Naperville, Ill.Current Soccer Club: Chicago Fire
Position: DefenderAge: 25Height: 6’ 1”Hometown: Fresno, Calif.Current Soccer Club: Columbus Crew
Position: DefenderAge: 25Height: 5’ 8”Hometown: Almere, NetherlandsCurrent Soccer Club: PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands)
Position: DefenderAge: 21Height: 6’ 2”Hometown: Plantation, Fla.Current Soccer Club: Villarreal CF (Spain)
Position: DefenderAge: 27Height: 6’ 0”Hometown: Bear, Del.Current Soccer Club: Toulouse FC (France)
Position: DefenderAge: 38Height: 6’ 1”Hometown: St. Louis, Mo.Current Soccer Club: Charlotte FC
Position: DefenderAge: 26Height: 6’ 2”Hometown: Birmingham, Ala.Current Soccer Club: Crystal Palace (England)
Position: DefenderAge: 29Height: 6’ 0”Hometown: Liverpool, EnglandCurrent Soccer Club: Fulham (England)
Position: DefenderAge: 29Height: 6’ 2”Hometown: Arlington, Mass.Current Soccer Club: FC Cincinnati
Position: DefenderAge: 23Height: 6’ 0”Hometown: Lake Grove, N.Y.Current Soccer Club: Borussia Mönchengladbach (Germany)
Position: DefenderAge: 27Height: 6’ 3”Hometown: Media, Pa.Current Soccer Club: Celtic FC (Scotland)
Position: MidfielderAge: 25Height: 5’ 9”Hometown: London, EnglandCurrent Soccer Club: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (Canada)
Position: MidfielderAge: 31Height: 5’ 8”Hometown: Pico Rivera, Calif.Current Soccer Club: Seattle Sounders FC
Position: MidfielderAge: 24Height: 6’ 2”Hometown: Furth, GermanyCurrent Soccer Club: Leverkusen (Germany)
Position: MidfielderAge: 25Height: 5’ 10”Hometown: Medford, N.J.Current Soccer Club: Leeds United FC (England)
Position: ForwardAge: 24Height: 5’ 10”Hometown: London, EnglandCurrent Soccer Club: AS Monaco FC (France)
Position: ForwardAge: 23Height: 6’ 1”Hometown: El Paso, TexasCurrent Soccer Club: PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands)
Position: ForwardAge: 26Height: 6’ 0”Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.Current Soccer Club: Olympique de Marseille (France)
Position: ForwardAge: 28Height: 6’ 3”Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.Current Soccer Club: Coventry City FC (England)
Position: ForwardAge: 28Height: 5’ 6”Hometown: El Paso, TexasCurrent Soccer Club: Club America (Mexico)
Position: GoalkeeperAge: 27Height: 6’ 3”Hometown: Wayne, Pa.Current Soccer Club: New York City FC
Position: GoalkeeperAge: 31Height: 6’ 3”Hometown: Park Ridge, N.J.Current Soccer Club: New England Revolution