Forward Christian Pulisic and the Americans will start their 2026 World Cup campaign against Paraguay on June 12 in Inglewood, Calif. File Photo by Mike Zarrilli/UPI | License Photo
Christian Pulisic snapped a five-month scoring drought in a United States win over Senegal, leading the forward to address critics after the friendly.
Pulisic found the net in the 20th minute of the 3-2 triumph Sunday in Charlotte, N.C. The score was his first for the Americans since 2024.
“It’s just great to score again,” Pulisic said on the TNT broadcast. Hopefully people can stop talking about it. I feel great. I’m really proud of the performance the guys put in.
“Just to be a part of it felt really good.”
The No. 16 Americans outshot the No. 14 Senegalese 15-7, but placed just five shots on target. They also committed 21 fouls, compared to nine for their foes. Senegal held a 55% to 45% edge in possession.
“This is a really good team,” Pulisic said of Senegal. “We just brought so much energy right from the start, the way we pressed them, the way we created chances. We could have had even more.
“I’m really happy with the performance.”
U.S. winger Sergino Dest drew first blood with a seventh minute score. Pulisic assisted that goal before helping to double the American lead in the 20th minute. Senegalese striker Sadio Mane cut the deficit in half when he beat U.S. goalie Matt Turner with a score in the 46th minute.
Mane tapped in a follow-up shot for an equalizer in the 52nd minute. U.S. striker Folarin Balogun netted the go-ahead score in the 63rd minute. Timothy Weah fed that strike with a cross through the box.
With his score, Pulisic ended a 27-game skid — for club and country. He last scored Dec. 28 for Italian Serie A soccer franchise AC Milan.
“Happy for him also because after the long time or few months [without a goal], let’s score again, which is important for a player knowing the preparation to the World Cup,” U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino told reporters.
The Americans, who are outside the Top 10 in betting odds to win the 2026 World Cup, will face No. 10 Germany in their last pre-tournament friendly Saturday in Chicago. They will open Group D play at the World Cup against No. 40 Paraguay on June 12 in Inglewood, Calif.
MetLife Stadium prepares for FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup signs hang in the interior of MetLife Stadium before it is set to host eight matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in East Rutherford, N.J,. on May 28, 2026. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
