Christian Pulisic Answers 26 Questions in Milan

Twenty-six players have been named to the U.S. Men’s National Team roster for FIFA World Cup 2026. To get to know them better, we asked every player a set of 26 rapid-fire questions to learn more about their personalities and their journeys that led them to this incredible moment on the sport’s biggest stage.

Here are 26 questions with forward Christian Pulisic:

What’s your idea of a perfect day off?

Relax in the morning, then a nice evening round of golf.

How did you get into golf?

My dad introduced me to the sport when I was really young, and I always liked it.

Who would be on your MNT scramble team?

Cristian Roldan, Walker Zimmerman and Jordan Morris.

If you could play a round of golf with anyone, who would you choose?

Bob Lilly, a childhood friend and friend of my dad’s. We played a lot together growing up.

What’s a song guaranteed to make you smile?

Choosin’ Texas by Ella Langley.

What was the name of your first youth soccer team?

The Gunners or something like that.

Do you remember your first jersey number?

Eight. My dad’s number.

When you smile, do you prefer a soft smile or smile with teeth?

I probably soft smile more, but I also smile with my teeth.

Outside of golf, what else do you enjoy doing off the pitch?

I really like to play chess. I’m definitely addicted to it.

Who’s the best chess player on the National Team?

Antonee “Jedi” Robinson is probably the best. We have some good matches, though.

Where’s your favorite place you’ve traveled?

Too many places to count. I’d say traveling somewhere in South America. I thought Chile was really beautiful.

What’s something about living in Milan that surprised you?

How touchy the people are here.

If you weren’t a professional soccer player, what would you be doing?

I would be trying to play some other sport, for sure. Golf or chess or something else.

Do you use an electric toothbrush or a manual toothbrush?

I’m an electric toothbrush guy.

TV or movies?

TV, for sure.

What’s your favorite movie of all time?

“The Big Green,” a soccer movie growing up.

You recently wrote a children’s book, “Christian’s Soccer Superpowers.” What inspired you to write it?

I was always a shy and scared kid growing up, playing against bigger players. I was also really small. I just wanted to show kids to believe in yourself and be confident.

If you could go back and give your younger self advice, what would it be?

Honestly, I would tell myself to stick with it. The path wasn’t always certain for me. There were a lot of days when I didn’t want to do what I was doing. But I would say, stay the course because it’s all worth it.

Who’s a soccer player that inspired you?

Luís Figo, former winger at Sporting CP, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Inter Milan.

Do you have any specific pre-match routines?

I always step onto the field with my right foot first and I do everything with my right side first – putting on shoes, putting on socks. That’s kind of my thing.

How do you mentally reset after a match?

I call my family and try to feel as normal as possible.

Who’s someone who assisted you on your journey to becoming a professional soccer player?

Definitely my dad the most.

What does it mean to you to represent the National Team and wear the crest?

It’s everything to me. It was a dream since I was a kid to play for the U.S. team and play in a World Cup. It’s the most incredible thing that I do.

When this tournament is over and you look back, what do you hope people say about the way you played and carried yourself?

I hope they can say we inspired a country, we gave everything we had, we fought and made all the American people proud.