Affectionately known as “Big Bear” by fans, John Pulskamp is the 23-year-old goalkeeper for Sporting Kansas City. John is a young goalkeeping talent in MLS and has even gotten attention on the international stage, being selected as an alternate player on the U.S. Men’s Olympic Soccer Team roster for the 2024 Olympics in France.
While you can commonly find John yelling from goal or guiding the backline during the game, outside of the pitch, John is someone deeply rooted in his faith, family, and cultural identity. His journey from a small, blue-collar town in California to the national stage is a testament not only to his impressive talent between the posts but also to the strong values that guide him.
Growing up in Bakersfield, California, John was the youngest of three brothers. His older brothers introduced John to soccer and as field players, they saw the perfect opportunity in the wild and energetic John, turning him into their target practice in goal.
“I didn’t really have much of a choice but to be a soccer player,” John smiles. “I was always the wild child growing up. I was kind of a troublemaker, and I had very little self-regard for my well-being when I was a kid. I was just athletic and throwing myself around. So, I was pretty good at it. And once I was good at it, I was like, all right, I'll just keep doing this.”
It might’ve started as a game between brothers, but soon enough, John found himself in love with the position. And the more he played, the more he realized there was something special for him in between the sticks.
John credits his brothers for much of his success. Whether intentional or not, those moments spent playing soccer as a kid laid the foundation for where he is now. “To this day, they still help me so much,” he shares. “I owe them the world. They were a huge role [in my life].”
But beyond his brothers, John’s heart lies with his family, particularly his Palestinian Muslim roots. John has always embraced both his faith and his heritage. His identity as a Muslim has been a guiding force in his life, shaping his personal growth and his approach to the game.
At the time of this interview, John is fasting for Ramadan. It’s a time for deep reflection and spiritual growth. While the world focuses on the idea of fasting, no food or water from sunrise to sunset, it’s about so much more than that.
“It is a spiritual time where you, you know, everyone focuses on the food and the water and, obviously, you're not ingesting anything from sunrise to sunset, but fasting goes way beyond that,” John explains. “What I try to explain to the guys on the team is that fasting is not just about food and water; it's about mind, body, soul.”
“It's what you listen to. It's what you think about. Like, you really are supposed to just kind of purify every part of your life. And as an athlete, that’s great because it’s really a form of meditation and getting closer to God, but also just calming your mind and your body. And it’s a really peaceful time.”
Eid al-Fitr, the celebration that marks the end of Ramadan, is another special time. For John, it’s about family, reflection, and food. Some of John’s favorite holiday memories come from his time spent at the mosque.
“The last ten nights of Ramadan, in particular, are supremely holy to us. There’s one night, Laylatul Qadr, we call it the Night of Power, which is a very, very special night. And in those ten days, it’s strongly recommended for all of us to spend as much time as we can in the mosque, in the masjid, and just spending those nights there. You stay up, eating and praying and spending time with your fellow Muslims, and in the gaps between the religious studies and praying, all of the younger kids particularly (but everyone) would just go out on the parking lot and play soccer together. Because I feel like soccer is a universal language throughout the whole world. Every corner of the world, every race, culture, religion, language. Put a soccer ball in a room, and people will get to know each other through this amazing sport. That’s why it’s the world’s game.”
In recent years, Eid Al-Fitr has fallen in season for John, but that doesn’t stop him or his family from spending time together. Whether it’s FaceTiming his family or having them visit, it’s important to stay connected. One of the sweetest ways John keeps the family close…through jars of olives.
His grandmother, or "sitti” (سِتّي ), always prepares a piece of home for John to take back to Kansas City. This results in sending him large jars of olives she personally hand-picks and prepares. The gesture is a simple yet profound reminder of home, love, and connection despite the 1,634 miles between them.
Since signing on to the team in 2019, Kansas City has become a second home for John. Here, he’s found a strong Muslim community to belong to and has shared his culture with his teammates. In 2024, the Sporting KC staff prepared a traditional Palestinian dish, Maqluba, for John to share with the squad. The meal prompted questions and curiosity from his teammates, something John encourages from everyone.
“The message is just, you know, ask questions, expose yourself to new cultures, new religions. You never know what you might find in yourself or what you might learn about people close to you,” he says. “In today’s day and age, I’m sure just about everyone has a coworker or friend or family member that is either Muslim or, you know, of another faith or culture that, you know, they may not realize they’re interested in learning more about. But then, once that door opens, it could really be a beneficial thing in their life. So, you know, just go out there and learn more about your fellow neighbors.”
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