The USMNT has already punched its ticket to the knockout round. Two wins, two clean sheets, and zero reliance on their best player. That last part matters more than most people realize.
Christian Pulisic picked up a leg injury in the opening game against Paraguay and sat out the Australia match entirely. He’s been spotted in a protective sleeve, doing light work on the pitch and in the gym. He might be available for the group stage closer against Turkey. But here’s the thing: just because he can play doesn’t mean he should.
Mauricio Pochettino has a real decision to make, and the smart play is to keep his star man on the bench.
The Injury Factor
Pulisic has been in prime form whenever he’s pulled on the USMNT shirt — 33 goals and 20 assists in 86 appearances per Football Reference. But that’s exactly why you don’t rush him back for a dead rubber. Turkey is already eliminated. The game has no bearing on the USMNT’s position in the group. Why risk aggravating a leg issue when the real tests start next week?
Pochettino said Pulisic is an option. He didn’t say he was a starter. That distinction matters.
The Depth Argument
The first two games proved something that might have been easy to miss before the tournament: this team doesn’t collapse without Pulisic. Ricardo Pepi slid into the left wing against Australia and the offense didn’t miss a beat. Folarin Balogun has two goals already. Weston McKennie is running the midfield. Sergiño Dest has locked down the right side.
Pochettino has 28 matches in charge, with 16 wins, 2 draws, and 10 losses. But the team has clearly leveled up since the World Cup started. The defense, anchored by Chris Richards and Tim Ream, has been tough to crack. Balogun looks like the real deal. It’s not perfect, but it’s functional without Pulisic. And that’s a huge luxury.
What the Knockouts Will Demand
The USMNT will face much deeper, more physical teams in the knockout rounds. Pulisic is the kind of player who can flip a tight game late — but only if he’s fresh. Pochettino knows this. He’s managed elite talent before. He understands that having Pulisic fully fit for the round of 16 is worth more than having him at 70 percent for a group stage game nobody remembers.
If the USMNT needed a result against Turkey to advance, sure, you push him. But they don’t. They’ve already got consecutive World Cup wins for the first time in 96 years. The job is done.
Let the fringe guys get minutes. Let Pulisic rest. The real tournament starts now.
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