6JUN

Pulisic goal drought passes 100 days before World Cup

1 min read

12:17UTC

The USMNT captain has not scored in over 100 days, coming on as a substitute in Milan's defeat with the World Cup 62 days away.

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Key takeaway

Pulisic has not scored for 100 days with the World Cup 62 days away, a selection pressure for Pochettino.

Pulisic came on as a late substitute in AC Milan's 1-0 defeat to Napoli on 6 April, extending a goalless run that began during the USMNT's back-to-back defeats at the World Cup opening venue . His last goal was 28 December 2025 against Hellas Verona; the drought now exceeds 100 days.

With Pochettino's 26 May squad announcement 50 days away, the drought is a selection pressure as well as a form issue. He was used as a substitute rather than a starter against Napoli, suggesting AC Milan's coaching staff have reduced his role. Pochettino declared himself 'more positive' despite the venue defeats , but Pulisic's form remains the single most-watched individual indicator ahead of the squad announcement.

Deep Analysis

In plain English

The USA's best player hasn't scored a goal for more than 100 days. The World Cup starts in 62 days. He came on as a substitute in a 1-0 loss to Napoli, which suggests his club manager doesn't even see him as a guaranteed starter right now. Pochettino's squad announcement is 26 May.

Sources:World Soccer Talk

Mentions:Hellas Verona →Mauricio Pochettino →World Cup →USMNT →Christian Pulisic →AC Milan →Napoli →

First Reported In

Update #6 · FIFA's stealth price hike

World Soccer Talk· 10 Apr 2026

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Causes and effects

This Event

Pulisic goal drought passes 100 days before World Cup

Pulisic's form is a direct concern for Pochettino's squad selection and the USMNT's attacking viability at home.

Led to

Pulisic assists for Milan, ends 2026 contribution drought

Pulisic's 100-day goal drought, documented when he came on as substitute vs Napoli, makes the 13 April assist against Torino — where he started — a form indicator but not a resolution.

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Adams returns; Robinson hurt; Pepi scores

Pulisic's drought of 16 games advances the form thread tracked since the 100-day milestone in prior updates.

Occurred 11 Apr 2026

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Pulisic brace ends 134-day drought, ties Lautaro on seven

Pulisic's 134-day drought (passed 100 days on 6 April, ID:2178) was the selection pressure resolved by his 11 May brace against Cagliari.

Occurred 11 May 2026

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Different Perspectives

Sky Sports

Sky Sports put its own name on the tournament's first goal total, 308 across 104 matches, published 20 July because FIFA's technical report was not ready to. An independent tally from SoccerAnalytics.net reconciled to the same number, but the figure entering wider circulation carries a broadcaster's byline, not FIFA's.

Vancouver and Toronto

Hotel occupancy fell 20.9% in Vancouver and hit roughly CAD 380m in hosting costs for Toronto, even as match-day room rates spiked. Both cities' formal cost-benefit reconciliations are due in spring 2027, and neither has yet had to account publicly for a July that undersold itself.

Spain / Royal Spanish Football Federation

King Felipe VI received Spain's squad at the Palacio de la Zarzuela on 20 July, a ritual that proceeded as scheduled despite the disciplinary file opened the same afternoon. Rodri's Golden Ball closed the individual awards, which went almost entirely to Spain.

Argentine Football Association

The federation faces a fine in its own right, beyond player suspensions, because FIFA's prosecutor is reviewing assistant coach Roberto Ayala alongside Paredes and Molina. Any sanction lands on a coaching staff whose own future with president Claudio Tapia is not discussed until the 21 September window.

FIFA

FIFA appointed a Disciplinary and Ethics Prosecutor on 20 July to build one file spanning Leandro Paredes' red card, Roberto Ayala's alleged strike and Nahuel Molina's, rather than ruling case by case. No hearing date exists yet, and FIFA's own past tariffs range from a CHF 30,000 federation fine in 2014 to Luis Suarez's four-month ban.

FairSquare

FairSquare has referred Gianni Infantino to the International Olympic Committee's Ethics Commission over FIFA's political-neutrality rules, using the IOC's authority as a lever FIFA's own president-appointed Ethics Committee cannot provide against itself. Trump's on-podium presence at the final, with Infantino visibly moving him aside, becomes an exhibit for that complaint rather than an argument for it.