Captain America: Can Christian Pulisic Unite a Divided Nation on the Soccer Field?

In the quiet of Manheim, Pennsylvania, amidst cornfields and the scent of manure, Jessaca Shortes watches Christian Pulisic on a large screen. She's with about two hundred other Americans, gathered on camping chairs and blankets to watch the U.S. team play Bosnia and Herzegovina in a World Cup playoff.

"Anything that can bring us together is incredibly important," Shortes says, her voice dropping to a whisper when she mentions politics. "For our children to see that we can be together."

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Anything that can bring us together is incredibly important. For our children to see that we can be together.

Her son, Owen, wearing a Pulisic jersey, approaches. The player's image is plastered on a billboard near the screen, part of a yogurt advertisement proclaiming "Feel the dream." Pulisic's career highlights flash on screen: goals for Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, AC Milan, and the U.S. national team. He played here, at Pennsylvania Classics, before becoming a global star.

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Confidence has always been Christian's keyword. Go dribble, run at opponents, have the confidence.

Dubbed 'Captain America,' Pulisic carries the weight of expectation. His European success, including being the first American to win the Champions League, and his leadership for the national team have cemented his status as arguably the greatest American soccer player ever. Analysts call the upcoming match against Belgium, following a 2-0 win over Bosnia, the "biggest game of his career." A victory would secure a quarter-final spot for the first time since 2002, potentially leading to a match against Portugal or Spain in a home World Cup.

Pulisic's former coach, Charlie Grimes, recalls a sign in his childhood garage: 'CONFIDENCE.' "Confidence has always been Christian's keyword," Grimes says. "Go dribble, run at opponents, have the confidence."

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the biggest game of his career.