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Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

Sports

Sports

Far from the Gold Cup, Christian Pulisic connects with youth soccer players who inspire him

Los Angeles Times
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Christian Pulisic is the U.S. national soccer team's active leader in both appearances (78) and goals ( 35 ) He was widely criticized for skipping the Gold Cup , the last major competition before next year ’s World Cup .

He says he needed a break to rest both body and mind before the World Cup , when he’ll be the focus of a team playing at home for the first time in 32 years .

The nonprofit club is dedicated to ending the pay-for-play model that has made soccer too expensive for many kids.

“It was fun doing everything and using our bodies to try to play soccer with him to see if he was good or not,” Arih Akwafei said.