<p><strong><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/christian-pulisic/">Christian Pulisic</a> </strong>is in the form of his Milan career, yet the discussions around him continue to circle around an unexpected theme: recognition. Former USMNT midfielder&nbsp;<strong>Stuart Holden</strong>&nbsp;believes the issue goes beyond goals, assists, or <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/ac-milan/">Milan</a>’s status in Serie A. His argument, framed around whether&nbsp;<em>American</em>&nbsp;talent is judged through a different lens, has reopened a debate that shadows Pulisic more persistently than most of his markers. </p>



<p>The answer Holden gives on whether&nbsp;<strong>Pulisic is undervalued because he is American</strong>&nbsp;appears simple, but what he actually says later in the conversation carries a sharper edge, one that transforms the question into something more mysterious.</p>



<p>The 27-year-old’s level is not up for debate. In his first nine matches of the season across Serie A and the cup, he has produced&nbsp;<strong>six goals and two assists</strong>, driving the Rossoneri’s attacking structure with both efficiency and flair. His impact has been immediate, decisive, and, crucially, consistent.&nbsp;<em>According to <strong>Goal’s US arm</strong></em>, his start to the season puts him on pace for the most productive year of his European career.</p>



<p>And yet, despite the numbers, the performances, and the influence he has on the club’s attacking rhythm, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/stuart-holden/">Holden</a> argues that the soccer world remains hesitant to place Pulisic in the tier he deserves. The question posed to him on&nbsp;<strong><em>The Rondo</em></strong>&nbsp;— a show produced by <strong><em>Goal USA</em></strong> — cut straight to the heart of it: Would Pulisic be viewed differently if he had chosen to represent <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/croatia">Croatia</a>, the homeland of his grandfather? Holden didn’t hesitate. But he didn’t fully reveal his strongest point — not yet.</p>



<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Pulisic x Modric<a href="https://t.co/wFzxiRAVB0">pic.twitter.com/wFzxiRAVB0</a></p>— Milan Posts (@MilanPosts) <a href="https://twitter.com/MilanPosts/status/1953399082778587568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2025</a></blockquote></div> 



<h2>Passport, a pedigree, and a perception problem</h2>



<p>Pulisic’s grandfather, Mate, was born on the Croatian island of Olib. When Pulisic moved to Borussia Dortmund at just 17, he obtained Croatian citizenship, a necessary step to avoid work-permit complications in Germany. This detail has followed him throughout his career: the notion that <strong>he&nbsp;<em>could</em>&nbsp;have represented the Checkered Ones but didn’t.</strong></p>



<p>The point matters because Croatia, a nation with a strong soccer heritage and two World Cup podium finishes in the last decade, commands a different kind of European respect. Playing for the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/usmnt/">USMNT</a>, a team still fighting preconceptions, brings a different set of assumptions — fair or not. It is here, in the middle of the discussion, that Holden finally reveals what he truly believes.</p>



<h2>What did Stuart Holden say about Pulisic?</h2>



<p>Holden’s answer was blunt, and it quickly spread across social media. <em>“Would Pulisic be more valued if he played for Croatia?&nbsp;<strong>Absolutely. There’s still a stigma around American soccer.</strong>”</em> That was the core of his argument — clear, unfiltered, and aimed straight at soccer’s global biases.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Stu Holden REVEALS Everything WRONG With Today&apos;s USMNT" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o53BVbOkhZ0?start=1&amp;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
</div></figure>



<p>But he didn’t stop there. Holden then delivered the comparison that lit up <em>X (formerly Twitter), Instagram,</em> and soccer forums within hours. <em>“I’ve seen the graphics online — if his name were&nbsp;<strong>Pulišić</strong>&nbsp;and he played for Croatia, he’d be worth €50 million. If he were&nbsp;<strong>Pulisicinho</strong>&nbsp;and Brazilian, he’d be worth €90 million. And I think that’s absolutely true.”</em></p>



<p>The numbers may be hypothetical, but the sentiment was not. The 40-year-old added, <em>“He’s a top-25 player in the world right now. He’s playing great soccer in a top-five league for a team near the top of the table.”</em></p>

Is Christian Pulisic undervalued because he is American? Ex-USMNT star Stuart Holden thinks so, as he doesn’t hold back against popular stigma

Is Christian Pulisic undervalued because he is American? Ex-USMNT star Stuart Holden thinks so, as he doesn’t hold back against popular stigma - World Soccer Talk

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<p>FOX’s World Cup set in Doha is a sight to see during Qatar 2022.</p>



<p>Built at a cost of several million dollars, it is the centerpiece of FOX’s coverage of the world’s biggest tournament. After all, FOX Sports have exclusive English-language coverage of the 2022 World Cup. Of equal importance, the competitions runs November 20 though December 18 with <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/">every game on TV and streaming</a>.</p>



<h2>Scenic site for FOX’s World Cup set</h2>



<p>Set in downtown Doha, FOX’s World Cup set offers a beautiful view of the Corniche, which is the ultra-modern skyline there.</p>



<p>FOX Sports co-commentator and analyst Stu Holden gave us a first glimpse of what the studio looks like. See clip below (and apologies for the SHOUTING by Stu Holden). As an aside, it’s interesting that Holden and the FOX crew completely disregard mentioning USA’s opening game against Wales. Instead, they concentrate on the Black Friday game between USA and England.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It&apos;s beautiful 😍<a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/stuholden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@stuholden</a> reveals our FIFA World Cup set in Doha, Qatar 🙌 <a href="https:\/\/t.co/l8TNit4eeg">pic.twitter.com/l8TNit4eeg</a></p>— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1591836958216560640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h2>First impressions</h2>



<p>FOX Sports’ set is huge. In particular, the openness of the design with the gorgeous views of the skyline invite the viewer in. Similarly, the mix of LED screens, augmented reality and physical desks are seamless. Overall, the set looks like it was money well spent.</p>



<p>The FOX Sports World Cup studio is a mix of physical, hard desks as well as virtual graphics. Recently, executive producer David Neal described it in more detail in an interview with&nbsp;<a href="https:\/\/www.sportsvideo.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sports Video Group</a>:</p>



<p>“The practice pitch is a giant LED screen. To the viewer, it will look like a piece of grass.</p>



<p>“But the set has physical attributes to it. It has pieces which will accurately reflect the culture and architecture of Qatar, and that part of the world. So those pieces will actually come across better if they’re there rather than being virtually there. It’s a blend. It’s a hybrid.”</p>


<div style="background:#f9e4ea;padding:10px;">
<h3>Guide to World Cup 2022</h3>
<div style="padding:10px;">
Here are some resources to help you get the most out of the biggest event in soccer!
</div>
<div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/"><strong>TV Schedule:</strong></a> All the info on <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/">where and when to watch</a> every game
</div><div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/04/analysis-of-world-cup-groups/"><strong>The Groups:</strong></a> We <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/04/analysis-of-world-cup-groups/">breakdown each group</a> and all the teams
</div><div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-jerseys-for-qatar-2022/"><strong>The Kits:</strong></a> Check out <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-jerseys-for-qatar-2022/">what every team will be wearing</a> on the field this fall
</div><div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/predictor/"><strong>Predictor:</strong></a> Play out every scenario with our <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/predictor/">World Cup Predictor</a>
</div><div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/05/world-cup-bracket-free-download/"><strong>World Cup Bracket:</strong></a> Map out the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/05/world-cup-bracket-free-download/">entire tournament</a>, from the groups to the final
</div><div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/"><strong>World Cup Hub:</strong></a> Your one stop for <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/">everything Qatar 2022</a>
</div>
</div>


FOX's World Cup set located in Doha is a sight to see. The multi-million dollar set will be the home of World Cup 2022.

FOX's World Cup set in Qatar is huge - World Soccer Talk

FOX's World Cup set in Qatar is huge

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Is Christian Pulisic undervalued because he is American? Ex-USMNT star Stuart Holden thinks so, as he doesn’t hold back against popular stigma

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FOX's World Cup set in Qatar is huge