Christian Pulisic is digging himself into a bigger and bigger hole right now.
The United States men’s soccer winger Pulisic took to Instagram on Wednesday with a notable message after the team got eliminated from the 2026 World Cup in the Round of 16. Pulisic thanked the fans for their support and added that “it simply wasn’t good enough from us in the end.”
But the line that drew the most attention from fans was Pulisic’s closing line. He ended his post by saying, “It’s just the start for us and for this sport in America.”
Pulisic got skewered over social media for that closing line. Many fans were questioning when “the start” would end in favor of some actual meaningful results for the USMNT.
"it's just the start for us and for this sport in america" it's your second world cup and soccer in the us is bigger than ever due to … none of your achievements or efforts https://t.co/PSnCQ2HpWO
— hunter harris (@hunteryharris) July 8, 2026
“It’s just the start for us …”
— Kelly Crandall (@KellyCrandall) July 8, 2026
Buddy, the USMNT has never won a World Cup or Olympic gold medal, so any repetitive narrative like that or “the future is bright” or “why not us” is tiring and frankly insulting. It’s been decades of disappointment regardless of coaches/players https://t.co/UW1IYXhoHI
“Just the start.”
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) July 8, 2026
Always “just the start.”
When do we get past the start? https://t.co/PG35jdjYaW
Objectively, no, this is not “just the start.” It’s been “just the start” for quite a while now. https://t.co/Tjov6Hw8gc
— Seth Tow (@SethTow) July 8, 2026
Indeed, Pulisic has been a member of the USMNT senior team since 2016 and has been a captain since 2018. Over that span, the USMNT famously failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, lost in the Round of 16 in the 2022 World Cup, and lost once again in the Round of 16 in this year’s World Cup. While Pulisic did help lead the team to three consecutive CONCACAF Nations League titles from 2019-24, that tournament only involves teams from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
During this year’s World Cup, Pulisic missed one-and-a-half matches in the group stage thanks to a calf injury and then subbed out of the Round of 16 loss early due to a knee and ankle injury. He ultimately finished the 2026 World Cup with zero goals and one assist as the USMNT once again failed to make its first quarterfinal since 2002.
Fans were already highly critical of Pulisic’s performance in the team’s embarrassing 4-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16 this week. Now Pulisic is drawing even more ire with his tone-deaf “it’s just the start for us” comment (particularly when the United States women’s soccer team is already four-time Women’s World Cup champions and five-time Olympic gold medalists).
