CHARLOTTE, N.C. _ America's best young soccer star is coming to Charlotte this summer.
And there's a reason the visit will be particularly special for him.
Christian Pulisic, the 19-year-old face of American soccer, will be one of a number of stars coming to Charlotte and Bank of America Stadium as part of the International Champions Cup. Pulisic's team, Borussia Dortmund, will face Liverpool on July 22 at 4 p.m.
Pulisic, a 5-foot-8, 139-pound attacker, already has a lengthy resume to back up his status as one of the top young soccer prospects. He is the youngest player to accomplish a number of feats, including appearing for the U.S. national team in a World Cup qualifier and scoring a goal as a foreigner in the German Bundesliga.
He is also the youngest player to score for the United States in international play, doing so in a friendly and later a World Cup qualifier as a 17-year-old. He was named U.S. Soccer Player of the Year in 2017 after being named the top youth player in 2016.
Pulisic's lean frame means he often does not physically overpower opponents, but rather he is known for his speed, quick dribbling, and ability to jump-start an offense.
But the reason this match matters so much to Pulisic is because of the opportunity to play against his former coach, Jurgen Klopp.
"Certainly already looking forward to this matchup and definitely excited to meet the man again who helped me make my first steps as a pro," Pulisic told the Observer via email. "BVB vs LFC will for sure make up for an exciting match to watch, but before that we have to focus on our matches left to play this season in order to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League campaign."
One of the reasons Pulisic signed with the German club Borussia Dortmund in 2015 was because of Klopp, then manager of Dortmund. Klopp led BVB to two Bundesliga (German League) titles in his time as manager.
But Pulisic and Klopp's time together didn't last long. Klopp left Dortmund in October 2015 to become manager of Liverpool, a position he still holds. That move came only eight months after Pulisic arrived.
But Pulisic hasn't harbored any ill feelings towards Klopp _ if anything, he still is supporting his former coach from afar (Klopp's Liverpool side will play in the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League over the next two weeks).
"Talking about UCL," Pulisic said, "best of luck and fingers crossed for Jurgen and his squad in this year's competition!"
As for whether Klopp is looking forward to the matchup? Former Dortmund star Patrick Owomoyela, who played for the club and Klopp from 2008 to 2013, said Thursday he expects the excitement is mutual.
"He probably was really happy as well," Owomoyela said. "He had a special time with us and the club obviously had a special time with him coaching us, so it's a perfect fit.
"There will be some trash talk going on, but it will be a very competitive game."
The 2018 International Champions Cup, which features 18 of the world's best soccer clubs, will take place this summer across three continents. Charlotte has hosted ICC matches in three of the previous four years, but did not participate in 2017. Past clubs have included Liverpool and A.C. Milan in 2014, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain in 2015, and Bayern Munich and Internazionale in 2016.
The reason Charlotte can host the ICC this summer is because the Carolina Panthers, whose preseason begins at Bank of America Stadium in August, are required to provide five rent-free days a year to the city in exchange for using taxpayer money to renovate the stadium.
The city does not always use its available days, but other uses this year include the college football kickoff in September and the Belk Bowl in December.
Presale tickets for the game go on sale April 24, while general admission seats will be available beginning May 1.
As for how impactful it is for an American soccer star like Pulisic to be playing stateside? Owomoyela said there's no downplaying the ripple effect it might have. "I'm sure he will recognize that it's a big opportunity to represent yourself on a wider scale in the US, and touching fans live in the stadium," Owomoyela said. "You need idols, you need key figures you can build the whole thing around, and obviously he's one of the key figures in US sports and US soccer. "And not just for the US _ he's a huge talent."
