Key Points
- Christian Pulisic suffered a left calf injury during the USMNT's 4-1 win over Paraguay on June 12, exiting at halftime
- He did not train with the full team all week and was ruled out of the June 19 match against Australia, which the U.S. won 2-0
- Head coach Mauricio Pochettino expressed confidence that Pulisic will be available for the Group D finale against Turkiye on June 25
- The USMNT clinched first place in Group D after results went their way, making the Turkiye match largely academic
Christian Pulisic appears set to return to the USMNT lineup for Wednesday's World Cup Group D finale against Turkiye at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The AC Milan winger sustained a left calf injury during the team's 4-1 opening victory over Paraguay on June 12, forcing him off at halftime.
The Injury Timeline
Pulisic did not participate in full team training sessions throughout the week following the Paraguay match. The U.S. Soccer staff ruled him out of the June 19 group stage match against Australia in Seattle, where the Americans secured a 2-0 victory to clinch both a knockout round berth and first place in Group D. The win marked back-to-back World Cup victories for the USMNT for the first time since 1930.
Speaking to reporters after the Australia match, Pochettino said he expects Pulisic to be fit for the Turkiye game. The timeline aligns with a cautious approach — nearly two full weeks between the initial injury and the June 25 kickoff at 10 PM ET.
The Stakes
With first place already secured, the Turkiye match carries minimal competitive stakes. That context cuts both ways: it reduces the urgency of rushing Pulisic back but also offers a controlled environment to reintegrate him before the knockout rounds, where the USMNT will face a Group C or Group E third-place finisher on July 1 in San Francisco.
Pulisic enters the World Cup with three career assists in the tournament, a tally that surpasses Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup assist total. His playmaking ability in the final third is central to whatever the USMNT plans to do in the elimination bracket.
What Comes Next
The Group D finale kicks off Wednesday, June 25 at 10 PM ET from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Turkiye still has something to play for in terms of seeding, which could make the match a useful stress test for Pulisic's fitness. A full 90 minutes seems unlikely given the circumstances, but even a half of competitive action would go a long way toward confirming his availability for the round of 32.
Source: ESPN, FOX Sports
Comments