On the morning of a World Cup qualifying matchday that will see the U.S. national team face Panama in its fifth of 14 matches on the road to the 2022 Qatar World Cup, it's the NFL fandom of U.S. national team star Christian Pulisic that was the topic of conversation among American soccer aficionados.
Pulisic appeared on the NFL Network broadcast of the London Game between the New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons. But it was about more than just the Chelsea forward taking in a live game in the city he now calls home. It turns out he was there to watch his Jets.
The 23-year-old is a Hershey, Pa. native, who has apparently revealed in the past that he's also a New York Rangers fan, showed off his true colors at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the first NFL game back in England since 2019.
MORE: World Cup qualifying standings, schedule & highlights
As a VIP guest at the London Games, Pulisic was able to get pitchside before kickoff: “Out here in London supporting my Jets. Let’s go!” he said.
OUR GUY @cpulisic_10 IN THE HOUSE!! pic.twitter.com/wVW4AJDAvh
— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 10, 2021
Pulisic had little to shout about early on as the Jets struggled to generate anything on offense and found themselves trailing 20-3 at half-time as a result. The Jets mounted a push in the second half, but a late touchdown by the Falcons spoiled any comeback hopes in the 27-20 final.
The USMNT star is not with his national team due to an ankle injury he picked up while in action for the USA in September. He has not appeared in a match since the 4-1 victory in Honduras, missing a total of seven games for Chelsea since the start of the season. However, manager Thomas Tuchel is hopeful to have Pulisic back at his disposal when the Blues return to action against Brentford on Oct. 16.
MORE: No Pulisic? No problem, thanks to Brenden Aaronson
The injury layoff gave Pulisic the opportunity to take in the Jets game, while soccer Twitter was left to process how a Pennsylvania kid could find room in his heart for that New York team:
How we feel about this Philadelphia?!
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) October 10, 2021
I mean……the @nyjets 🥸🤓🤡🤮 pic.twitter.com/Oe7zLdd3mB
Christian Pulisic is at the NFL game in London right now and he likes the Jets. Not cool for a guy from Hershey PA. ⚽️ ✈️ 🍫 💜 🏈 pic.twitter.com/9TqEetTy5k
— Jim Blair (@JimB3rd) October 10, 2021
Pulisic being a Jets fans is clearly something none of us were ready for. https://t.co/nTiCwg0R8h
— YankReport (@ReportYank) October 10, 2021
Pulisic doesn't take a lot of Ls, but one of them was supporting the Jets instead of the Eagles who are a lot closer to his hometown
— Ethan Parker (@ethanparker324) October 10, 2021
Christian Pulisic is a Jets fan. How unfortunate.
— Rivelino Marion 🇺🇸🇭🇹🇵🇭 (@TheLinoMarion) October 10, 2021
Pulisic looks like Jack Harlow with his Jets get up
— Ethan Zombek (@eszombek) October 10, 2021
Getting Christian Pulisic and @FabrizioRomano to wear Jets gear publicly might be the biggest Jets victory of the past decade. https://t.co/OGTyYtUm5j
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) October 10, 2021
Pulisic being a Jets fan is very concerning. https://t.co/xwY2qkKyEl
— AO Toledo (@AOToledo) October 10, 2021
Pulisic is from Hershey, PA and is a Jets fan? What! Why? #nfllondongames
— Bishop Magic Don Sycamore (@elelcoolche) October 10, 2021
Dude is from Pennsylvania. It’s not like Pulisic plays for the Union. Clearly he’s a real Jets fan if he’s repping them in London (he’s been vocal about this in the past). Stop trying to turn nothing into something. @cpulisic_10 | @nyjets https://t.co/n49I7mymoG
— Mike Calendrillo (@MikeCalendrillo) October 10, 2021
Pulisic outing himself as a Jets fan is just the latest sign that this USMNT generation is cursed.
— Justin Egan (@EganSoccerWords) October 10, 2021