Christian Pulisic sat on the bench again Thursday night. The face of American soccer, the guy with the most caps and the biggest contract, watched the opening whistle from the sideline as the USMNT faced Türkiye in their World Cup group stage finale.
This wasn’t a rest day. This wasn’t a tactical mystery. This was a message—and it’s about damn time someone sent it.
Coach Gregg Berhalter made a statement: no one’s spot is safe, not even the star who’s been carrying this program on his back for half a decade. Pulisic, nursing a minor knock? Maybe. But let’s call this what it is—a benching born from frustration.
The USMNT has sputtered through this tournament. A nervy 1-0 win over a minnow, a listless draw against a middling European side, and now a do-or-die against Türkiye, a team that plays with the kind of fire the Americans have been missing. And Berhalter decided his best player would start the match on the bench.
What’s Wrong with Pulisic?
Nothing that a few good games wouldn’t fix. But the Chelsea winger hasn’t looked like himself for months. The burst is there, but the end product has vanished. He’s pressing, forcing passes, taking shots from impossible angles. The swagger that made him a star at Borussia Dortmund has been replaced by a tightness that screams “I’m trying too hard.”
And maybe that’s the problem. Pulisic has carried the weight of American soccer expectations since he was 17. Every game is a referendum on the sport’s growth in the States. Every touch is analyzed. Every goal drought becomes a national crisis. That’s a lot for a 27-year-old whose body has already broken down more than it should.
“I’m not worried about Christian. He’s been through worse. But this team can’t afford to have its best player playing scared.” — Former USMNT midfielder Stuart Holden, on ESPN pregame.
Berhalter’s decision isn’t just about Pulisic. It’s about the whole damn team. The USMNT has been too predictable, too safe. They play like they’re afraid to lose instead of hungry to win. And when your star player is part of the problem, you have to bench him.
The Turner Return
Matt Turner got the start in goal, and that’s its own story. The Nottingham Forest keeper has been in and out of the lineup, battling injuries and form issues. But Berhalter chose him over the younger, flashier option. That tells you something: experience matters when the pressure’s on.
Türkiye is no joke. Their fans turn every match into a cauldron. Their players fight for every ball like it’s their last meal. The USMNT needed a steady hand, and Turner provides that. He’s not the most athletic keeper in the world, but he’s calm. He doesn’t panic. And against a Turkish side that will throw everything at the goal, calm is worth its weight in gold.
But here’s the real question: can the USMNT score without Pulisic? The attack has been toothless. The midfield can’t connect passes. The fullbacks push up but deliver crosses that hit the first defender. If Pulisic can’t unlock a defense, who can?
The bench is thin. There’s no one else with his dribbling ability, his willingness to take on defenders. But maybe that’s the point. Maybe Berhalter wants to show Pulisic that the team can survive without him. Or maybe he wants to send a message to the rest of the squad: you have to step up.
What This Means for the USMNT
If the USMNT wins this game without Pulisic, it’s a huge statement. It says the team is bigger than one player. It says Berhalter has the guts to make tough calls. It says American soccer is growing up.
If they lose, the questions will be deafening. Why bench your best player in a must-win game? Why not give him a chance to find his form? Why trust a system that hasn’t worked all tournament?
I’ll tell you why: because sometimes you have to break something to fix it. Pulisic has been coddled, protected, treated like he’s untouchable. And that’s not his fault. It’s the system’s fault. American soccer has built a culture around star power, around hoping one player can save us. That doesn’t work in a World Cup. You need a team.
“We’re not here to make anyone happy. We’re here to win.” — Gregg Berhalter, when asked about the lineup change.
Berhalter is right. And he’s also taking a huge risk. If this backfires, his job is on the line. But at least he’s trying something different. At least he’s not sticking with the same formula that’s been failing.
The Verdict
Christian Pulisic on the bench is a shock, but it shouldn’t be. He hasn’t earned the right to start. His form has been poor, his confidence shot, and the team has been dragging him along. Sometimes the best thing for a star is a wake-up call.
The USMNT needs to win this game. Not just for advancement, but for identity. They need to show they can fight, scrap, and win ugly. They need to prove they’re not a one-man band.
And maybe, just maybe, Pulisic will come off the bench in the second half, fresh and hungry, and save the day. That would be the storybook ending. But right now, the story is about a team that finally had the guts to bench its superstar.
Let’s see if it pays off.
