Skip to content
2026 FIFA World Cup
10APR

Pulisic goal drought passes 100 days before World Cup

1 min read
16:41UTC

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.

SportDeveloping
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.

First Reported In

Update #6 · FIFA's stealth price hike

World Soccer Talk· 10 Apr 2026
Read original
Different Perspectives
EU Sports Commissioner Glenn Micallef
EU Sports Commissioner Glenn Micallef
Publicly criticised Infantino after a Brussels meeting produced no safety guarantees for European fans — an institutional escalation that treats FIFA as answerable to European political authorities on operational security.
Iraq national team
Iraq national team
Coach Graham Arnold argued that closed airspace, shuttered embassies and stranded personnel make squad assembly physically impossible, requesting postponement rather than accepting what would be the first conflict-caused qualification forfeit.
Football Supporters Europe (FSE)
Football Supporters Europe (FSE)
Views FIFA's ticketing monopoly as an abuse of market dominance requiring regulatory intervention — the first fan organisation to invoke EU competition law against a sports governing body.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Positions itself as integral to tournament security infrastructure and has not excluded enforcement operations near match venues, despite three Congressional bills seeking restrictions.
Jalisco state government
Jalisco state government
Insists Guadalajara's World Cup matches will proceed as planned regardless of the February cartel violence, rejecting any possibility of FIFA relocating fixtures.
Jamaica Football Association
Jamaica Football Association
Publicly uneasy about playing in Guadalajara three months after cartel violence forced cancellation of an international sporting event in the same city.