USMNT Legend Donovan Criticizes Pulisic’s World Cup Performance

Following the United States’ elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, attention has shifted from the squad’s tournament run to the performance of its captain. Christian Pulisic, who entered the competition as the face of the team and a centerpiece of its attacking hopes, struggled to make an impact during critical moments. The striker was unable to maintain his fitness throughout the event and delivered a lackluster showing in the Round of 32 matchup against Belgium, eventually requiring a substitution in the second half due to injury.

The fallout from the match has been significant, drawing sharp criticism from prominent figures in American soccer history. Fox Corporation analyst and USMNT legend Landon Donovan did not hold back in his assessment of Pulisic’s ability to deliver on the biggest stages. Speaking on his podcast, *Unfiltered Soccer*, Donovan suggested that Pulisic’s inability to perform in high-pressure situations has become a consistent pattern.

Donovan questioned Pulisic’s toughness and desire, contrasting the star’s decision to exit the match with his own experiences playing through injuries during the 2010 World Cup. The analyst noted that while Pulisic rested during the Gold Cup to ensure peak fitness for this tournament, he has managed only one goal since December. Donovan expressed disbelief that a player would leave a knockout match on home soil voluntarily, stating he would have refused to be removed from the field.

Pulisic is not facing scrutiny from just the men’s side of the game. Carli Lloyd, a celebrated star of the United States Women’s National Team, also voiced her disappointment with the forward’s failure to elevate his game when the team needed a leader to step up.

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What to watch

• Pulisic’s recovery timeline and return to club football.
• Fox Sports’ upcoming coverage schedules and analysis for the remainder of the tournament.

Source: original release