SEATTLE — U.S. captain and forward Christian Pulisic missed the United States’ World Cup Group D match against Australia on Friday because of a calf injury, ending days of uncertainty over the availability of the team’s leading player, officials and media reports said. The United States went ahead without Pulisic in a key group-stage fixture at Seattle’s Lumen Field.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino confirmed before kickoff that Pulisic was unavailable because of a lingering left calf problem suffered during the team’s opening World Cup match against Paraguay. The injury had limited his training throughout the week, with team officials describing him as “day to day” while medical staff monitored his recovery.
Pulisic played only the first half of the United States’ 4-1 victory over Paraguay on June 12. According to U.S. Soccer officials, the AC Milan attacker experienced stiffness in his left calf after being kicked in the area during training before the match. He was substituted at halftime as a precaution, and subsequent training sessions were conducted separately from the main squad.
“I’m hoping I’ll be fine the next few days,” Pulisic said after the Paraguay match. “Just the back of my leg, sort of my calf area. I’m staying positive. I don’t think it’s anything.” At the time, team officials indicated that further evaluation would determine his availability for upcoming matches.
The absence of Pulisic prompted Pochettino to make changes to the starting lineup. Forward Ricardo Pepi replaced him, the only change from the team that defeated Paraguay in its tournament opener, according to match reports.
Pulisic, widely regarded as one of the most influential players in the U.S. squad, entered the tournament after another strong season in European club football. In the opening match against Paraguay, he contributed an assist and played a central role in the American attack before leaving the field.
Despite his absence, the United States defeated Australia 2-0 to secure advancement to the knockout stage, according to match reports. The victory ensured the Americans would continue their World Cup campaign regardless of the outcome of their remaining group match.
As of June 20, U.S. Soccer had not announced a timetable for Pulisic’s return. Team officials continued to describe his condition as under evaluation, and details regarding his availability for future World Cup matches remained unclear.
