"We are not afraid, this is our moment. We want to be a real force in this World Cup, capable of facing anyone." This is what United States star Christian Pulisic said in an interview with Journal of Sport, ahead of the U.S. national team's debut against Paraguay. Speaking about his relationship with teammate Weston McKennie, Pulisic said:

"We grew up together as footballers. Now we both play in Italy at the highest levels, me at AC Milan and him at Juventus, but above all we continue to defend the colors of our national team together. When you face such an important match, with the pressure of debuting in a World Cup, it helps to see guys you've known since you were 13 or 14 years old next to you. You want to fight like them, not to disappoint them and to cover their shoulders. With this spirit we are starting the World Cup that is taking place in our home country."

Pulisic also focused on the difference between this World Cup and the one four years ago in Qatar: "The atmosphere before the tournament seems similar. There is the same excitement and expectation for a big match. However, in some aspects I feel calmer. The experience has helped me to be more calm and the fact that we are playing in our country gives us an advantage. I also think that I am a better footballer than I was four years ago in Qatar. I have grown a lot in every aspect of my game, also thanks to the experience in Italy."