Pulisic remains the obvious reference point. He is the most recognisable player, the one casual fans know, and the one opponents prepare for first. But the most important thing for the US is that the squad no longer feels built around a single star.
That is the real test for the United States: not whether one player shines, but whether the team looks complete.
This is where the wider sporting backdrop matters. In the US, every major sport is pulled into arguments about control, identity and presentation. Football is not immune. The national team carries commercial weight, cultural expectation and the pressure of representing a growing game in a highly competitive media environment.
A strong World Cup showing would do more than boost results. It would strengthen football’s place in the national conversation and reinforce the idea that the sport has moved from niche interest to mainstream event.
The phrase “balanced squad” is important because it hints at maturity. The best international teams are rarely just talented; they are coherent. If the US can combine Pulisic’s leadership with structure, discipline and enough support around him, it can become a serious story rather than a side note.
The next angle to watch is simple: as the World Cup draws closer, can the United States turn broad interest into genuine belief on home soil?