​USA’s Christian Pulisic and Canada’s Alphonso Davies learned the same hard lesson at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, originally published by The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Pulisic and Davies were expected to be the saviors, the players who would carry the United States and Canada into their next, potentially glorious, eras. Pulisic, nicknamed Captain America early on, wasn’t wearing the armband at the World Cup, but he remained the talisman for the USMNT’s hopes, while Davies captained Canada after catching the eye for Bayern Munich.
Ultimately, both teams exited in the Round of 16, alongside co-host Mexico. Morocco thrashed Canada 3-0, and the U.S. fell to Belgium 4-1. Davies faced immediate scrutiny after a tournament in which he couldn’t be on the field as much as he would have liked, with insinuations that Bayern Munich pressured Canada to limit his on-field time following a late-season injury. Everyone offered the right sentiments in and after the tournament, but it was a precarious position to be in. Pulisic also battled injuries and couldn’t finish the loss to Belgium in the final group stage match. The reality is that Pulisic, like Davies, didn’t seem fully ready for the grind of this World Cup. It could be a matter of bad timing, or perhaps a flawed plan for the US superstar.
The United States needed Pulisic’s ball-carrier ability to unlock Belgium, but they didn’t consistently find that rhythm. There’s a clear takeaway here: one player can’t do it alone. The U.S. has developed a wealth of talent, and so has Canada, yet neither side managed enough support to propel Pulisic and Davies into a deep run. In the end, that will feel like a squandered opportunity. The piece also touches on other World Cup moments, from Norway’s salmon to Neymar’s Brazil and Mauricio Pochettino’s stylish, costly shirt, ending with a nod to Jordan Henderson’s injury celebration during England’s win over Mexico.