Time magazine put Christian Pulisic on the cover of its May 25 edition as the United States counts down to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the report says. The cover carries the headline “Captain America — Christian Pulisic Steps Onto Sport’s Biggest Stage.”
The feature arrives with the World Cup a little over a month away and the U.S. serving as one of the tournament cohosts, the report says. On the cover image, Pulisic wears the red-and-white stripes of the USMNT’s new home jersey layered over AC Milan’s red-and-black home kit.
In the interview included with the feature, Pulisic discusses his journey from Hershey, Pennsylvania, to Europe, where he has played for Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea and Milan, per the report. The publication describes him as “the most influential American men’s soccer player in the country’s 250-year history.”
Pulisic also addresses an extended scoring drought, which the report says has reached 17 games for Milan and includes a stretch without a national-team goal since November 2024. He is quoted saying, “Going at the goal, creating attacking actions, for me, that’s why I play the game,” and noting the other responsibilities required of him on the field.
When asked whether he thinks the United States can win the World Cup, Pulisic replies, “Yeah,” and adds, “I can sit in my bed at night and picture holding up the World Cup trophy. I did that as a kid. I’m not going to stop. You have to believe. Why not?” The report notes the U.S. aims to advance further than it has since 2002 and will open in Group D against Paraguay, Australia and Türkiye.
