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As Christian Pulisic side-stepped Senegal’s goalkeeper and watched his changeable deed nan backmost of nan net, nan U.S. men’s nationalist squad (USMNT) prima sprinted to nan area flag, sewage connected his knees, balled his fists and fto retired a roaring shriek arsenic nan stadium went into a frenzy supra him.
Pulisic, who has been referred to arsenic "Captain America" for nan USMNT, had conscionable put his squad up 2-0 successful the World Cup friends against Senegal successful Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium. It marked his first extremity of 2026, including his clip pinch AC Milan, and his first for nan U.S. since 2024 against Jamaica successful nan CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal.
With nan scream, fans believed Pulisic was physically letting that weight spell from his shoulders earlier nan World Cup. But it was thing much for nan USMNT veteran.
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Christian Pulisic celebrates aft scoring nan 2nd extremity for nan United States during an world friends lucifer against Senegal astatine Bank of America Stadium successful Charlotte, North Carolina, connected May 31, 2026. (Omar Vega/USSF/Getty Images)
"Honestly, yeah, scoring aft a while. But also, conscionable being successful nan U.S. and knowing that we person this infinitesimal successful beforehand of us, it’s specified a crazy opportunity. It seems surreal," Pulisic told Fox News Digital, while highlighting his business pinch Hershey’s, an American staple that he grew up astir successful Hershey, Pennsylvania.
"Just scoring there, having my brothers astir me. It’s specified an breathtaking moment. Honestly, this intends truthful overmuch for me, truthful that was conscionable each nan emotions being fto retired for sure."
USMNT STAR CHRISTIAN PULISIC FINALLY ENDS LENGTHY GOAL DROUGHT IN WIN OVER SENEGAL
It mightiness person only been a friends match, but Pulisic felt nan buzz astir nan crowd from nan U.S. faithful, and erstwhile he recovered Sergiño Dest conscionable complete six minutes into nan lucifer for nan first goal, it was an unthinkable commencement for nan USMNT successful his eyes.
"Just nan fans successful Charlotte, and it feels for illustration there’s that other spot of support. It conscionable drives america truthful much, it helps truthful overmuch erstwhile we’re playing. It really pushes you through. Yeah, to person it present and person these fans supporting us, we conscionable consciousness truthful lucky."
It goes without saying how overmuch unit sits on nan shoulders of players successful nan World Cup, but for nan 26-man squad playing connected location soil, nan stakes are that overmuch higher. Pulisic has known for nan past 3 years pursuing nan USMNT nonaccomplishment to nan Netherlands successful nan Round of 16 wherever his adjacent chance astatine nan World Cup would be.
So, while nan strength and unit is astatine a high, Pulisic wouldn’t person it immoderate different way.
Christian Pulisic of nan United States reacts during nan world friends lucifer against Senegal astatine Bank of America Stadium successful Charlotte, N.C., connected May 31, 2026. (Omar Vega/USSF/Getty Images)
"Everyone has pressure. It’s successful nan World Cup. It is what it is," he explained. "Absolutely americium grateful to person this opportunity and beryllium successful this moment. I wouldn’t waste and acquisition it for nan world. We want to person that, we want to consciousness that. Again, we don’t person to do it alone. We person a beautiful bully squad we get to spell to conflict pinch and we’re going to do nan champion we tin and travel retired pinch bully results."
Pulisic pointed retired really nan team’s trainings person been great, noting nan team’s chemistry fixed their clip together passim nan years. And while winning a friends lucifer is ever a awesome commencement for a squad heading into nan World Cup, Pulisic and his squad cognize this is each mentation for erstwhile it matters connected June 12 against Paraguay.
"For it to travel together connected nan section is awesome, but besides we person nan biggest moments up of us. We’re each successful mentation and we want to get it done erstwhile it really matters," he said.
FULL CIRCLE IS SWEET
Pulisic whitethorn beryllium nan pridefulness of U.S. men’s soccer, but he was first nan pridefulness of Hershey, Pennsylvania. That’s why his business pinch nan town’s iconic cocoa shaper puts a ample grin connected his face.
To observe its hometown hero, Hershey’s is launching limited-edition PULISIC’S Milk Chocolate Bars, which characteristic civilization wrappers pinch his printed signature connected them.
"It’s nan coolest. I don’t cognize what other to say. Just being a kid from Hershey, Pennsylvania. Growing up there, surviving chocolate, breathing chocolate, smelling nan cocoa from my house. It’s incredible," he said. "Just truthful galore memories. Now, to spot my sanction connected a cocoa barroom and conscionable beryllium moving pinch Hershey’s during this infinitesimal it’s honestly a dream travel true."
United States of America guardant Christian Pulisic (10) reacts against Panama during nan 2nd half of a Concacaf Nations League semifinal lucifer astatine SoFi Stadium. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images)
Pulisic said he remembers being successful his backyard dreaming astir scoring nan extremity to triumph nan World Cup, while astatine nan aforesaid clip smelling nan cocoa being made crossed town.
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"Yeah, I mean, location are perfectly times that you do. I retrieve smelling it much erstwhile it rained. It’s conscionable weird and there’s things successful nan municipality wherever you’re utilized to it," he said, smiling.
The cocoa bars will beryllium disposable while supplies past connected June 6, arsenic nan first 5,000 guests astatine Hershey’s Chocolate World successful Hershey, Penn. astatine 9 a.m. will person a free bar. Also, successful Times Square, nan first 3,000 guests astatine 10 a.m. will get one.
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Scott Thompson is simply a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
