The United States men’s national team might have to square off against Australia without its most dynamic attacker. Christian Pulisic, dealing with a calf injury sustained in training last week, spent Tuesday working out alone while the rest of the squad ramped up for Friday’s pivotal Group D clash in Seattle.
A team spokesperson labeled Pulisic as “day to day” after he completed his second consecutive morning of individual drills at the U.S. base in Orange County. The rest of the group practiced fully, putting finishing touches on a game plan that was already complicated by the Socceroos’ physical style.
Pulisic’s status is especially concerning because of how crucial he was in the Americans’ tournament-opening 4-1 thrashing of Paraguay last Friday. The AC Milan winger set up Folarin Balogun’s first goal with a perfectly weighted pass and later forced an own-goal through relentless pressure along the left flank. He was pulled at halftime with the score 3-0—not because of performance, but because the calf tightened up.
According to the team, the injury stems from a kick he took to the back of his left calf during training sessions before the Paraguay match. Coach Mauricio Pochettino described the halftime substitution as purely precautionary after Pulisic reported stiffness at the break.
“I’m staying positive,” Pulisic said after the game. “I don’t think it’s anything. Just the back of my leg, sort of my calf area. I’m hoping I’ll be fine the next few days.”
That optimism hasn’t translated to a full return to training yet. With the United States facing Australia—a team that opened its tournament by beating Turkey 2-0—the stakes are clear. A win would put the Americans in the driver’s seat for the top spot in Group D and keep alive hopes of finally breaking through the round of 16, a ceiling the program has never exceeded at a World Cup.
The Americans close group play on June 25 back at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood against Turkey, but the elimination-round construction could hinge on Friday’s result. Australia’s organization and set-piece threat present a sterner problem than Paraguay, and without Pulisic’s ability to draw defenders and create off the dribble, the U.S. attack loses some of its margin for error.
Pochettino has not publicly ruled out his star forward, and Pulisic’s individual work suggests he’s somewhere between questionable and probable. But the clock is ticking. Friday’s kickoff at Lumen Field might determine whether the U.S. carries momentum into the knockout phase or faces an uphill battle simply to get out of the group.
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