How a 27-Year-Old’s Form in Milan Could Shape the USMNT's 2026 World Cup Run
Christian Pulisic’s move to AC Milan has done more than revive his club career; it has reshaped the trajectory of the USMNT heading into the 2026 World Cup. After years of inconsistency at Chelsea, the 27-year-old has rediscovered his confidence, rhythm, and attacking sharpness in Serie A. Milan’s system has given him freedom, responsibility, and a platform to play his most complete football since his breakout years in Germany. With the World Cup arriving on home soil, his resurgence couldn’t be better timed for a national team preparing for the biggest stage in its history.
A major reason for Pulisic’s leap forward is how Milan uses him on the field. Operating as an inside-forward rather than a traditional winger, he’s attacking central spaces more often, combining quickly, and arriving in scoring positions with better timing. The league’s tactical demands have sharpened his decision-making, while Milan’s structured approach in the final third has improved his ball retention under pressure. During his first season at Milan, playing alongside elite attackers like Rafael Leão and Olivier Giroud elevated his creativity and movement, and his defensive work rate has grown in ways that translate directly to the USMNT’s pressing principles. The 27-year-old is not just producing more, but is playing smarter.
That evolution matters enormously for the United States. A confident, in-form Pulisic becomes the team’s primary chance-creator and transitional threat, providing the USMNT with consistent end-product rather than sporadic moments of standout plays. His improved sharpness enhances his chemistry with Folarin Balogun, Gio Reyna, and Tim Weah, creating a more fluid and unpredictable front line. The only thing that has ever truly slowed him down is injuries. When he is fully fit, the USMNT’s ceiling rises dramatically. With his Milan form keeping him in rhythm and confidence, he enters the 2026 cycle as both the emotional and competitive leader of this young squad.
If he maintains this level through 2026, the impact on the USMNT could be transformative. Pulisic gives the United States a true match-winner in tight knockout games, someone capable of breaking lines, creating chances, and shifting momentum in an instant. His presence forces opponents to respect the US in a way they have not in past tournaments, raising the team’s overall ceiling. With the World Cup on home soil and expectations higher than ever, the 27-year-old’s Milan-powered evolution may be the key that unlocks the most ambitious run in USMNT history.
