Christian Pulisic’s Injury Status: Will He Feature for USMNT Against Australia?

Christian Pulisic’s Training and Injury Update

The U.S. men’s national team practiced in Irvine, California, ahead of their upcoming World Cup match against Australia in Seattle. Christian Pulisic has been training separately from the main squad throughout the week, leaving his availability uncertain. U.S. Soccer describes his situation as "day to day," with Pulisic completing a modified training routine while his teammates prepare normally.

Pulisic’s injury traces back to the opening game versus Paraguay, where he suffered a kick aggravating a pre-existing left calf problem. Coach Mauricio Pochettino took him off at halftime as a precaution, substituting Sebastian Berhalter. The fact that Pulisic has not joined full training sessions within 72 hours of the next match raised questions about his readiness, despite teammates downplaying concerns.

"Christian will be ready, everyone. Let’s relax," midfielder Tyler Adams said. "He picked up a knock before the game and got kicked again during the match."

After the Paraguay victory, Pulisic himself told FOX Sports he had received "a bit of a kick" but hoped it was nothing serious and that taking precautions would allow him to recover quickly.

Details on Pulisic’s Injury

The current issue is centered on Pulisic’s left calf. U.S. Soccer has not disclosed much about its severity, only confirming it relates to an existing condition. Pulisic has endured a range of injuries throughout his career, including a significant 56-day absence last season with AC Milan due to various ailments. This year alone, he missed over three weeks because of a thigh and glute strain and hip bursitis, among other soft-tissue problems.

During Monday’s training, Pochettino noted Pulisic appeared "good" briefly before stepping away. Forward Tim Weah expressed optimism, saying he believed Pulisic would be ready to play and emphasizing how much the team needs him.

When Could Pulisic Return?

Since Pulisic played only the first half against Paraguay, there is no official timeline for his return. The possibility remains that he could start against Australia on Friday, though confirmation will come after Pochettino’s press conference on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Pulisic trained individually with two trainers while the rest of the squad completed a full session. Reports mention he performed single-leg jumps before returning to the gym once media access ended.

If Pulisic does not feature against Australia, his next chance to play might be in the Group D final against Türkiye on June 28 at SoFi Stadium, the same venue where the USMNT began their World Cup campaign.