SPORTS

Pulisic remains scoreless as USMNT lose key friendly

▪

Read, Watch or Listen

Media Bias Meter

Sources: 5

Left 25%

Center 75%

Sources: 5

ATLANTA — The United States lost 2-0 to Portugal on Tuesday as Mauricio Pochettino’s experimental lineup conceded goals to Francisco Trincão (37th) and João Félix (59th); Pochettino said small details cost the team while Christian Pulisic, moved to striker, remained scoreless. The result, following a prior 5-2 loss to Belgium this window, extended Pulisic’s international drought and intensified roster evaluation; Pochettino and staff said they will continue tactical testing and review player minutes and positional data ahead of final World Cup selections.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.

Timeline of Events

Oct 2024: Mauricio Pochettino took charge of the U.S. men’s national team.
Nov 18, 2024: Christian Pulisic scored for the U.S. against Jamaica (last international goal before drought).
Dec 28, 2025: Pulisic’s last recorded club goal for AC Milan.
Late March 2026: U.S. lost 5-2 to Belgium in an international friendly.
Immediately after: U.S. lost 2-0 to Portugal; Pulisic’s international drought reached eight games and continued roster evaluations.

Why This Matters to You

If you're a soccer fan, Pulisic's scoring drought is concerning. As the U.S. team's star player, his performance affects our World Cup chances. Keep an eye on his club games with AC Milan. A goal there could boost his confidence.

The Bottom Line

The U.S. team is in a rough patch, losing to both Belgium and Portugal. Coach Pochettino is still testing tactics and evaluating players. The final World Cup roster isn't set yet. Worth forwarding if you know a soccer lover worried about our World Cup run.