Trending Now - Alexi Lalas Dismisses Usmnt's World Cup Pressure Complaints

WHO:

ABC News - Alexi Lalas, a former U.S. soccer player and Fox's top soccer analyst since late 2014.

ABC News - Christian Pulisic, the top American soccer player.

ABC News - Other retired stars including Stu Holden, Carli Lloyd, and Javier “Chicharito” Hernández.

WHAT:

ABC News - Lalas criticized U.S. soccer players for complaining about pressure ahead of the World Cup, calling them a "bunch of whiners."

ABC News - Pulisic stated, “There’s pressure, I feel it. Yes, it’s there, but it’s nothing that I can’t handle.”

ABC News - Lalas expects the U.S. team to win in the new round of 32 and reach the round of 16.

ABC News - Lalas mentioned that Pulisic has not scored in 18 Serie A matches since December 28 and has not scored in eight straight U.S. games since November 2024.

ABC News - Lalas stated that Pulisic is “well on his way to becoming the best male American soccer player in history.”

ABC News - Fox's main network will televise 70 games of the expanded tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 19, and 34 will be on FS1.

WHERE:

ABC News - The World Cup will be hosted in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

WHEN:

ABC News - The expanded tournament runs from June 11 to July 19.

WHY:

ABC News - Lalas believes that the current generation of U.S. players has been given ample resources and opportunities, and he expects more from them.

HOW:

ABC News - Lalas expressed his views during a Fox event to promote its World Cup coverage.

(UPDATED May 22, 2026 08:08 UTC)

Alexi Lalas, a former U.S. soccer player and Fox's top soccer analyst, has criticized current U.S. soccer players for complaining about pressure ahead of the World Cup, calling them a "bunch of whiners," while Christian Pulisic acknowledged the pressure but stated, “It’s nothing that I can’t handle.” Lalas expects the U.S. team to advance from the new round of 32 to the round of 16, despite Pulisic's struggles, having not scored in 18 Serie A matches since December 28 and eight straight U.S. games since November 2024. The expanded World Cup tournament will take place from June 11 to July 19, hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, with Fox's main network set to televise 70 games.