John Pulskamp

For the American Olympic weightlifter, see John Pulskamp (weightlifter).

John Gregory Pulskamp (born April 19, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club Sporting Kansas City.

John Pulskamp

Personal information
Full name	John Gregory Pulskamp[1]
Date of birth	(2001-04-19) April 19, 2001 (age 24)[1]
Place of birth	Bakersfield, California, U.S.
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.87 m)[1]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Sporting Kansas City
Number	1
Youth career
2015–2016	Central California Aztecs
2016–2017	Real So Cal
2017–2019	LA Galaxy
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–	Sporting Kansas City II	35	(0)
2020–	Sporting Kansas City	33	(0)
International career‡
2020	United States U20	1	(0)
2023–2024	United States U23	3	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of March 15, 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of November 20, 2023

Club career

Born in Bakersfield, California, Pulskamp began his career with U.S. Soccer Development Academy sides Central California Aztecs and Real So Cal, before joining the youth academy at LA Galaxy.^[2] On June 23, 2018, Pulskamp made an appearance on the bench for LA Galaxy II, the club's reserve side in the USL Championship, but did not come on as a substitute.^[3]

On April 5, 2019, Pulskamp signed with Sporting Kansas City II, the reserve side of Major League Soccer club Sporting Kansas City.^[4] He made his debut for the side on May 6 against Louisville City, starting in a 3–2 victory.^[5] Pulskamp ended his first professional season helping his side keep three clean sheets from 14 matches.^[6]

Sporting Kansas City

On February 24, 2020, Pulskamp signed a professional homegrown player deal with Major League Soccer club Sporting Kansas City.^[6] He spent the majority of the 2020 season as a backup goalkeeper, appearing on the bench 13 times but without making a single appearance.^[7] He also made two appearances for Sporting Kansas City II in the USL Championship, with loans being limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[7]

Pulskamp made his debut for Sporting on April 17, 2021, during the club's first match of the season against the New York Red Bulls.^[8] Due to injuries to Sporting Kansas City's starting goalkeeper, Tim Melia and two backups, Pulskamp was given the start.^[8] The match ended in a 2–1 victory.^[9]

International career

Pulskamp was born in the United States to an American father and Palestinian mother and is eligible for both national teams.^[10] On January 18, 2020, he made his international debut for the United States under-20 side against Mexico U20.^[11] In December 2021, he was called up to the senior team for their friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina, but did not make an appearance in the match.^[12] He was selected as an 2024 Olympic squad alternative.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played October 20, 2024^[13]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		Playoffs		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Sporting Kansas City II	2019	USL	14	0	—		—		—		—		14	0
	2020	USL	2	0	—		—		—		—		2	0
	2021	USL	12	0	—		—		—		—		12	0
	2022	MLS Next Pro	6	0	—		—		—		—		6	0
	2023	MLS Next Pro	1	0	—		—		—		—		1	0
	Total		35	0	—		—		—		—		35	0
Sporting Kansas City	2021	MLS	6	0	—		—		—		1[a]	0	7	0
	2022	MLS	12	0	4	0	—		—		—		16	0
	2023	MLS	5	0	2	0	—		—		3[a]	0	10	0
	2024	MLS	6	0	2	0	—		—		1[a]	0	9	0
	2025	MLS	7	0	—		0	0	—		—		0	0
	Total		29	0	8	0	0	0	—		5	0	42	0
Career total			64	0	8	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	77	0

1. Appearances in Leagues Cup

Personal life

Pulskamp is a practicing Muslim and has supported the MLS rule change allowing additional stoppage time for Muslim players to drink water at sundown during the holy month of Ramadan.^[14]