The weight of being the star
Christian Pulisic arrives at the World Cup as the United States’ most successful player just when his country is hosting. Teammates and rivals recognize the burden on their shoulders. The debut will be on Friday against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
“I can’t even imagine the weight he has on his shoulders,” said Tyler Adams, his teammate. “From a young age, he was the beacon of hope for American soccer.”
Pulisic, 27 years old and currently at AC Milan, does not shy away from the spotlight. “It’s what I’ve always wanted,” he said Thursday. He recognizes that he can’t do it alone: ”With the guys I have around me, it makes it much easier for me.”
Mauricio Pochettino, Argentine coach in charge since 2024, qualified the pressure: “Of course he needs to be an important player, but the team’s shield and culture are more important than any name.”
The return of Paraguay
Paraguay returns to a World Cup after 16 years. Led by Gustavo Alfaro, the team relies on a solid defense and counterattack. The question is whether Julio Enciso will recover from a muscle injury. Captain Gustavo Gómez highlighted Alfaro’s work: “He strengthened the identity of what Paraguayan football is.”
Canada seeks its first victory
Canada faces Bosnia and Herzegovina. He has never won a World Cup match. Alphonso Davies has hamstring discomfort and is likely not to play. Canada coach Jesse Marsch said: “This group is really prepared for this moment.”
Bosnia, in 64th place in the ranking, eliminated Italy in the playoffs and arrives with confidence after that achievement.
The day promises emotions for the three Concacaf teams competing at home.
