Christian Pulisic Injury: Will the USMNT Star Play Against Australia?

The superstar attacker has been training on the sidelines for most of the week.

Christian Pulisic hasn’t trained with his teammates this week. | John Dorton/USSF/Getty Images

Whether or not U.S. men’s national team star Christian Pulisic will be ready to go come Friday’s World Cup match against Australia remains to be seen, as manager Mauricio Pochettino and the entire medical staff are set to hold a “meeting” Thursday night to discuss his readiness.

Pulisic sustained a kick in the first match against Paraguay that triggered pain in a pre-existing left calf injury. Pochettino removed him at halftime as a precaution, replacing him with Sebastian Berhalter. Since then, Pulisic has trained individually all week in the lead up to the second group stage match in Seattle.

“We will assess the whole group, and tomorrow we will communicate [Pulisic’s injury status],” Pochettino said Thursday. “He’s evolving and much better from Friday. We will see. If not available tomorrow [against Australia], he’ll back for Türkiye.”

The USMNT plays its third and final group stage match on June 25 against Türkiye back in Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium, eager to have already secured a place in the knockout stages.

The fact that Pulisic wasn’t training with the rest of the group just 24 hours prior to kick off sparked serious concerns, and Pochettino’s lack of confidence did nothing to quell them, even if Tyler Adams and other USMNT teammates said Pulisic’s injury shouldn’t be of any concern

“Christian will be ready, everyone. Let’s relax,” star midfielder Adams said Monday. “I think he picked up a knock a few days before the match and got kicked in the same spot again during the match.”

Pulisic had told FOX Sports directly after the 4–1 win over Paraguay that he “just got a bit of a kick in the first half,” adding, “I’m really hoping that it’s nothing ... Taking a little bit of precaution today, but I’m hoping I’ll be fine in the next few days.”

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What Injury Does Christian Pulisic Have?

Christian Pulisic has been training on the side in Irvine, Calif., this week. | Jamie Squire/Getty Images

The latest issue with Pulisic is a left calf injury. U.S. Soccer has been silent on the extent of the issue, other than confirming that it was a pre-existing concern.

Pulisic’s injury history is extensive and various ailments sidelined him for 56 days in the 2025–26 season with AC Milan. The 27-year-old most recently missed eight days due to a strain of the thigh and gluteal muscles, while Bursitis in his hip held him out for 17 days earlier in the campaign. He’s also dealt with extensive soft-tissue concerns throughout his career.

On Monday, Pochettino said Pulisic was “good” for a brief moment before leaving training. On Tuesday, Tim Weah added, “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.”

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When Will Christian Pulisic Return From Injury?

Christian Pulisic only lasted 45 minutes in the opening match. | Jamie Squire/Getty Images

There is a general lack of information on Pulisic’s injury; however, Pochettino seemed confident that his star player would at least be back by next week’s clash with the late qualifiers and definitely ahead of the knockout stages. There remains a very real possibility that he plays and even starts on Friday against the Socceroos, but there will be no confirmation until the day of, when Pochettino provides an update on Pulisic’s status.

On Wednesday, Pulisic worked with two trainers on his own while the other 25 players participated in the full session. According to The Athletic, he did some single-leg jumps and by the time the media were sent away after the 15-minute viewing period, he had returned to the gym. 

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