Christian Pulisic is itching to get back on the field for the USMNT, but there’s a pretty big catch. The 27-year-old forward missed Team USA’s 2-0 win over Australia with a left calf injury, and now with a group stage finale against Turkiye looming on Thursday, he’s making it clear he wants to play. Just not all of it.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle, Pulisic told reporters he’s ready to go. But he also admitted he’s “probably not ready” to handle a full 90 minutes. That’s the kind of honest answer you don’t always get from players, especially with a World Cup on the line.
What Pulisic Actually Said
Carlisle reported that Pulisic said he’s “ready to play in the USMNT’s group stage finale on Thursday, but added he’s ‘probably not ready’ to play 90 minutes.” So the timeline is clear: he’s available, but on a minutes restriction. That puts coach Gregg Berhalter in a tricky spot. Do you start your best attacker and hope he can give you 60 strong minutes? Or do you bring him off the bench and save his legs for later in the tournament?
The USMNT hasn’t made an official announcement about Pulisic’s status for Thursday. But the fact that he’s saying he’s ready — with that caveat — suggests he’ll at least be on the roster. And honestly, even 45 minutes of Pulisic is better than most alternatives.
Why This Matters
This is a developing story, and there’s more to come. But for now, the key takeaway is that Pulisic is pushing to play, which is good news for a USMNT side that looked solid against Australia without him. But calf injuries are tricky. They can linger. They can flare up again if you push too hard. So the team’s medical staff will have the final say, not Pulisic’s competitive fire.
Turkiye isn’t a pushover either. They’re physical, organized, and they’ll test the USMNT’s depth. If Pulisic can’t go 90, someone like Brenden Aaronson or Malik Tillman might get the nod. But having Pulisic available — even in a limited role — changes how Turkiye has to game plan. That alone could be the difference.
We’ll update this story as more details come in. But for now, it’s looking like Pulisic will be in the mix Thursday, just not for the whole night.
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