Christian Pulisic limped off the pitch in the 59th minute on Tuesday, and his World Cup hopes limped right along with him. The USMNT star twisted his ankle on a shot attempt in the 52nd minute, stayed down for a bit, tried to shake it off, and finally had to wave the white flag seven minutes later. By then, Belgium had already punched their ticket to the quarterfinals with a 4-1 win that felt more lopsided than the scoreline suggests.
It was a brutal end to what was supposed to be a statement tournament for the Americans. Instead, they’re heading home early, and Pulisic is heading into an offseason he’d probably rather forget.
What Pulisic Said About the Injury
Speaking to Fox Sports after the game, Pulisic didn’t sugarcoat it.
“I just twisted my ankle and sprained my ankle. It’s just frustrating to end like that,” he said. “Know, I have time to rest, so it will be okay.”
The play happened when Pulisic tried to get a shot off and collided with a Belgian defender’s foot. The awkward landing twisted his ankle, and he went down holding it. He got up, tried to run it off, but it was clear he wasn’t the same player. The USMNT coaching staff pulled him shortly after.
It’s not just the injury that stings. Pulisic struggled before he got hurt. Critics pointed to a quiet performance, no real attacking threat, and a few passes that went nowhere. The loss wasn’t all on him — Belgium looked sharp, especially in transition — but for a player carrying the weight of American soccer hopes, the scrutiny was immediate.
What’s Next for Pulisic
The good news? He’s got time. Pulisic plays for AC Milan, and Serie A doesn’t kick off until August 23 against Torino. That’s about six weeks away. Milan has a few friendlies lined up — starting July 25 against Celtic — so he’s got a window to rest, rehab, and get right for preseason under new manager Ruben Amorim.
Pulisic said he plans to step away from the game for a bit.
“For me, it’s just going and spending some time with family and forget about the game for a little bit, of course, try to get a little bit of rest,” he said. “We’ll be right back in a few weeks going back to preseason and back with the national team, no doubt. There’s still a lot more that we want to accomplish.”
That part — back with the national team — is worth noting. The USMNT won’t play meaningful games for a while, but Pulisic is already thinking about the next cycle. For a guy who just got knocked out of a World Cup, he’s not hiding from the future.
For Belgium, the ride continues. They face Spain on Friday in the quarterfinals. For the U.S., it’s a long flight home and a lot of questions about what went wrong.
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