Throughout the last few years, American soccer has routinely pleaded with Christian Pulisic to acknowledge reality. The question has come in different forms, but it has always circled the same idea: Does he feel the weight of being the face of the U.S. men's national team heading into a home World Cup?

It's so close we can almost taste it. The 2026 World Cup is now just days away, with the best players from around the globe descending on the United States, Mexico and Canada for what promises to be a superb summer of football. While some teams will solely harbour dreams of getting out of the groups, others know that anything other than a trophy parade in late-July will go down as failure. We're set, then, for five-and-a-half weeks of drama, filled with joy and heartbreak in equal measure.

The USWNT face Brazil for a second time in June as Emma Hayes’ side look for a response after Saturday’s 2-1 defeat. GOAL breaks down the biggest storylines ahead of kickoff.

Former Arsenal and France star Olivier Giroud has officially agreed a one-year contract extension with Lille, ensuring the legendary striker will continue playing top-flight football into his 40s. Giroud will lead the line for Les Dogues next season under the guidance of newly appointed manager Davide Ancelotti, son of Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti.

Newcastle are on the verge of confirming their first arrival of the summer transfer window as Reims goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen heads to Tyneside. While initial reports suggested a hefty price tag, the Magpies have successfully negotiated a deal that sees them pay significantly less for the highly-rated 20-year-old.

Michael Olise scored three and France overcame a brief scare from Northern Ireland to wrap up their pre-World Cup friendlies with a comfortable 3-1 win. The Bayern Munich star was effective throughout and good value for his hat-trick as Les Bleus saw off the visitors without really getting out of second gear. It's hard to imagine a better result before France move to the U.S.

GOAL takes a look at the big storylines and takeaways in the latest installment of the USMNT notebook.

Newcastle are reportedly prepared to sanction the sale of Sandro Tonali this summer as they look to proactively manage their squad value and avoid the complications that surrounded Alexander Isak's future. The Italian midfielder has become the subject of intense interest from the Premier League's elite, sparking what could become one of the biggest transfer sagas of the upcoming window.