Landon Donovan has added his voice to criticism directed at Christian Pulisic's World Cup campaign, stating on a podcast that the scrutiny is justified. Donovan's comments reflect wider disappointment surrounding Pulisic's limited impact on the tournament, which many viewed as historically significant for American soccer.

Pulisic's effectiveness was significantly constrained by an injury sustained in the opening match, which sidelined him for the following fixture and restricted his availability during the final group-stage game. The team's subsequent loss to Belgium in the Round of 16 underscored the absence of Pulisic's anticipated influence, as observers noted the midfielder failed to deliver the performance many expected from one of the tournament's American stars.