Christian Pulisic Gets Injury Update Before World Cup Clash With Australia
The United States men’s national team enjoyed a dream start to the FIFA men’s World Cup, with one caveat.
The USMNT poured it on Paraguay en route to a 4-1 win at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on June 12. An own goal by Paraguay’s Damián Bobadilla and a brace by Folarin Balogun gave the USMNT a 3-0 advantage at the half, and suddenly, they seemed invincible.
Then, Christian Pulisic conspicuously spent the second half of the bench. We didn’t receive any sort of explanation as to why Pulisic was subbed out until after the game.
“I just got a bit of a kick in the first half, so I’m really hoping that it’s nothing,” Pulisic said, per FOX Sports’ Doug McIntyre. “Taking a little bit of precaution today, but I’m hoping I’ll be fine the next few days.”
USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino added that Pulisic had “started to feel tight” after getting kicked in his calf, so “we didn’t want to take any risks.”
Pochettino was more succinct on Pulisic’s status on June 15.
United States men’s national team attacker Christian Pulisic trained off to the side at Monday’s practice session as he attempts to recover from a calf injury he first sustained in training last week,” Jeff Carlisle wrote for ESPN. “Pulisic engaged in individual work on a field away from the main group before heading to the gym to exercise on a stationary bike. When asked how Pulisic was doing, U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino said, ‘Good,’ without elaborating.”
The Athletic’s Henry Bushnell relayed that USMNT star midfielder Tyler Adams was bullish on Pulisic, saying, “Christian will be ready. Everyone, let’s relax.”
While this squad has more attacking depth than any USMNT in recent memory, the United States needs Pulisic to have any legitimate chance at a deep run in the first men’s World Cup played on U.S. soil since 1994.
The USMNT will try to maintain momentum from their dominant opener when they take on Australia at Lumen Field in Seattle on Friday, June 19.
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This story was originally published June 15, 2026 at 4:29 PM.