MEXICO CITY — Christian Pulisic was on the field in Couva, Trinidad and Tobago, in October 2017, when the U.S. men’s national soccer team failed to qualify for the World Cup in Russia.
As a 19-year-old on a veteran-laden squad, he did not receive the blame for the unfathomable outcome. Yet he was as gutted and embarrassed as his teammates.
More than four years later, Pulisic has stepped into a larger role, and with the Americans in the closing stretch of the regional qualifying tournament, the Chelsea attacker is keen on adding a World Cup berth to a growing list of feats that includes an UEFA Champions League title.