MIAMI — Next week, the U.S. men's national team will no longer be Mauricio Pochettino's team.
The manager is headed to take over Manchester United, returning to the Premier League where he led Tottenham Hostpur and Chelsea before.
A new USMNT manager will be named. It could be someone as famous as Pep Guardiola. It may be someone known mostly to hardcore soccer fans.
That manager will call in Christian Pulisic. He will still be there, and he'll be there for the next manager, too.
The national team belongs to everyone, but every nation has its eras. Pulisic's started early, when he was the young hotshot on a team that missed the 2018 World Cup. He has passed from the great hope to the hero to ... whatever he is now. But he is part of the U.S. national team's
present, and he's part of its future.
He reminded fans of that Friday, Nov. 14 with a Man of the Match showing in a 6-0 romp over Haiti.
This was not a friendly. The Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series started Friday and will be decided Tuesday, Nov. 17. Except it was all but decided in the second half at Nu Stadium, with Pulisic helping to set up Julian Hall's goal to make it 2-0 in the 52nd minute, then scored two goals of his own − one from the penalty spot in the 62nd and another in the 63rd as soon as play resumed.
Barely 100 seconds later, Pulisic gets a second ⚡ pic.twitter.com/UjhMvhajiE
— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 14, 2026
"Right after the goal I think it opened up a little bit. I got a ball with space, and kind of looked around and didn’t see many good options and felt I could curl it in to the near post. That was it. I was feeling good, so yeah," he said.
Yeah.
Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Folarin Balogun and a few other vets missed out on the September-October window in which the U.S. played four friendly matches. Pochettino had the regulars stay with their clubs while obviously pressing the restart button and calling in talented teenagers.
"Thank you to Christian, thank you to Weston," Pochettino said. "They didn't participate in the last camp because we had half the squad made up of young kids. The way they were from the beginning was amazing. I think we can only say thank you."
Pulisic and Pochettino never seemed to have the closest relationship, with the player's decision not to play in the 2025 Gold Cup baffling the manager. When Pochettino was a player, any call from Argentina was sacred. Missing a continental championship was anathema.
Pulisic didn't see it that way, hoping to come in for pre-tournament friendly matches before getting a rest during the tournament proper
"I think we had some good moments and he brought a lot of excitement to the team," Pulisic said when asked what Pochettino's legacy would be with the U.S. "I think he'll leave that behind."
The AC Milan man is rarely verbose, but it was a succinct answer in a moment when he could've heaped praise on the outgoing coach.
But, no matter. Pochettino is gone, and Pulisic won't be headed to Manchester United to join him. He will, however, still be with the U.S. national team.
There already was talk after the September-October window that featured a bevy of top rising stars that the future may be now, that players like Cavan Sullivan and Hall were ready to be the focal points of the national team.
After all, Pulisic didn't hit the level he hoped to in the 2026 World Cup after the knock he suffered in the opener against Paraguay.
This, then, was a gentle reminder. No one was trying to put the 28-year-old out to pasture, but he still has plenty to say about the future of the national team − no matter who is in the technical area.
That is, though, the ideal. Now as it has been for a decade, the U.S. is better when Pulisic is contributing. A meld of Pulisic and Sullivan, allowing both to play to their strengths, would set the Stars and Stripes up perfectly.
Pulisic says he's ready to lend his leadership and example, if it's necessary.
"It’s cool to see these guys, watch these kids in training. There’s some really good players. For me, it’s just exciting and I hope I can do everything I can to support them in any way I can," Pulisic said. "They don’t need me, though. They’re doing amazing."
Pulisic came into the window with three goals in his last five matches for AC Milan, and his future at the Serie A club secured with a long contract extension. He is feeling good wearing the Rossoneri and feeling good in the Stars and Stripes.
International teams always have ups and downs, but Pulisic also has a long future in the USMNT, especially if he continues to put in performances like he did Friday.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Christian Pulisic sends message with double vs. Haiti in USMNT return
