Yahoo Sports’ Jason Fitz chats with Christian Pulisic about the excitement of hosting Copa America 2024 in the USA, the evolution of Team USA, and the team’s aspirations ahead of the World Cup. Christian joined Yahoo Sports on behalf of Michelob Ultra.
Video Transcript
Jason Fitz with Yahoo sports, hanging out with soccer, superstar, Christian P Christian.
Thanks for the time, man.
I appreciate it.
Uh You’re joining us on behalf of MC Ultra.
We’ll get to that in a minute, but it’s an exciting time right now for soccer, especially in America, right?
With the Copa America tournament being here, everybody’s got all eyes on it.
So for you, how much does it mean for this tournament to be in America?
Given the World Cup is only a couple of years away and everybody’s focused so much on it.
Yeah, I mean, it’s, it’s massive.
Um obviously a big tournament on home soil.
There’s nothing like it for us uh representing your country and uh doing so in the States and having your, your own support.
I’m gonna have family friends being there.
It’s uh it’s just an exciting time for the sport.
Is there a different pressure because it’s on home turf to prove that this team can hang with the Giants like Argentina and Brazil?
I mean, I don’t think playing it in the US gives us necessarily added pressure.
I mean, we always want to perform well, we have an amazing opportunity and uh hopefully, yeah, to, to do so here and just inspire people watching, I think uh it’s an honor.
So we’re just looking forward to this opportunity.
You played with the highest level of EPL talent everywhere, right?
And now you’re representing your country.
Is there any moment that you can take from EPL and look at it and say, man, this is what team usa needs to bring, we need to be able to do more of this.
Is there something you can take away from that?
I mean, I think I’ve played in great teams and leagues all over the world and I think of course, um, you know, the highest level is being played over in Europe in the club level.
And if you look at our team, now, we have guys who are playing all across Europe.
Um So I think we bring in a lot of that as well and uh when you have players playing at the, at the highest levels, that’s when you’re gonna create the best national team.
It’s like that and all the best ones.
And, uh, yeah, I think, I think we’re right there.
Do you feel like there’s a surge because for years, if we’re being honest, the men’s side has been doubted at times from team USA, right?
But you’re, you’re also right that the young talent that the team has right now is being seen differently.
Has there been a surge in your mind?
In the way that sort of this team is being received.
I would think so.
I think we’ve come a long way in recent years.
I mean, how much the team has changed and how it looks from, uh, you know, back when we didn’t qualify, you know, around 2018.
And now, um, looking at the team now and where all our players are playing, I think there’s definitely, um, and, and, you know, we showed it on the biggest stage in the World Cup against some of the biggest teams that were right there.
We can compete with them.
So I don’t think uh anyone can really take it slightly.
Is there a difference in the style for you playing club play versus when you’re playing for your country?
I mean, it’s, it’s uh it can really depend on who you’re playing against.
Uh which country there’s a lot of different styles of, of the game.
Uh There’s a lot of things that you can take with you.
Of course, that’s where we are most of the year and that’s where we continue to improve and get better and, and you try to take those things and, and apply it here and uh yeah, sometimes the games you just never know what you’re gonna get.
Anytime you bring a national team together, you have to get sort of an energy.
So give us the real like, what’s the vibes been like behind the scenes for this team going into Copa America.
I mean, the vibes are great within this team.
I think we have a, a pretty well connected team.
Guys have known each other for quite some time.
Uh quite a young team for the most part.
Uh I think, yeah, the guys get on well and we love, you know, just getting on that field together and, and uh yeah, showing what we can do.
So I think uh we’re definitely not concerned about, you know, the vibes in this team.
You’re hanging out with us on behalf of Mick Ultra.
Tell everybody what you do with Nick Alo Ultra.
Yeah, I mean, having a brand partner like Mila Ultra going into this uh COPA, it’s really exciting.
Um Obviously they’re just trying to promote like an active lifestyle that fits in with what I’m doing.
And uh yeah, there’s an awesome collaboration that’s gonna be with Puma that’s coming out that I’m just uh I’m really excited for people to see and uh yeah, it’s a pretty cool time coming up.
