Christian Pulisic Injury Update: Will He Feature Against Australia?
Christian Pulisic's Fitness Ahead of USMNT's Clash with Australia
The U.S. men's national team held a practice session in Irvine, California, before moving to Seattle for their second World Cup match on Friday against Australia. Christian Pulisic has not trained fully with his teammates this week, raising questions about his availability. The term "day to day" has been repeatedly used when discussing his condition.
Before the training, a spokesperson from U.S. Soccer revealed that Pulisic was undergoing a "modified training session" as he tries to regain full fitness while the rest of the squad prepared for the upcoming game.
What Happened to Pulisic?
Pulisic missed several full-team sessions after sustaining a kick during the opening match against Paraguay, aggravating a prior left calf injury. Coach Mauricio Pochettino decided to substitute him at halftime, bringing on Sebastian Berhalter as a precaution.
His absence from group training just three days before the Australia match caused some concern despite teammates like Tyler Adams expressing confidence earlier in the week. Adams told reporters, "Christian will be ready, everyone. Let’s relax. I think he picked up a knock a few days before the match and got kicked in the same spot again during the match."
After the 4-1 victory over Paraguay, Pulisic himself commented to FOX Sports, "I just got a bit of a kick in the first half. I'm really hoping it's nothing serious. Taking a little bit of precaution today, but I hope to be fine in the next few days."
Details on the Injury
Christian Pulisic has a history of injuries, including a long spell of 56 days out during the 2025–26 season with AC Milan. Most recently, he missed over a week due to thigh and gluteal muscle strains and had a 17-day hiatus because of hip bursitis. Soft tissue problems have also troubled him throughout his career.
This time, the issue involves his left calf. U.S. Soccer has confirmed it was an existing problem worsened by the kick in the Paraguay match but has not shared specifics on severity.
On Monday, Pochettino mentioned that Pulisic appeared "good" briefly before leaving training early. Teammate Tim Weah said on Tuesday, "I think he'll be ready for the game and ready to be with the team, so just praying to God he feels 100% fit. He'll be needed."
When Might Pulisic Return?
With limited information available, there is no firm timeline for Pulisic's recovery. He could still start against Australia, but confirmation is expected only after Pochettino’s next press briefing on Thursday.
During Wednesday's session, Pulisic trained separately with two trainers while the rest of the squad practiced together. According to The Athletic, he attempted single-leg jumps before returning indoors after media access ended.
If Pulisic misses the Australia match, the earliest chance for a comeback might be the Group D finale against Türkiye on June 28 at SoFi Stadium, where the USMNT began their World Cup campaign.
