The USMNT enjoyed a huge 4-1 opening win over Paraguay last Friday, but now Christian Pulisic’s injury may keep him out of today’s match.
Pulisic is the USA’s star, and he was partially responsible for two of the team’s goals in the first half vs. Paraguay.
He’s now doubtful for today’s game against Australia, but the United States Men’s National Team is still favored to win.
Can USMNT overcome Christian Pulisic’s injury, beat Australia?
Today at 1 p.m. MT, USMNT (1-0) faces Australia (0-1) in their second game of Group D play.
But the team’s biggest star, Chistian Pulisic, is doubtful for the match.
Pulisic was fantastic in the first half of USMNT’s 4-1 win over Paraguay last Friday. He assisted Folarin Balogun on one of Balogun’s goals—he had two in the match, and helped push the ball downfield on another goal.
But Pulisic sustained a calf injury and didn’t play in the second half.
This week, he hasn’t been practicing at full strength and it seems likely he won’t play.
How was Pulisic injured?
“Bit of a kick in the first half, so I’m really hoping that it’s nothing,” Pulisic told reporters during postgame interviews. “Taking a little bit of precaution today, but I’m hoping I’ll be fine. Just the back of my leg, sort of my calf area, but I’ve had similar things before, and staying positive. I don’t think it’s anything.”
“He’s evolving. He’s much better from Friday,” coach Mauricio Pochettino said on Thursday at his pre-game press conference. “We will see. If he is not available for tomorrow, he will be available for the next game.”
Even given that, the USMNT is still favored to win today, with odds ranging from -160 to -170. A draw is +340 and Australia to win is +440.
The game will be played at Lumen Field in Seattle, WA.
Records broken and tied in 4-1 win over Paraguay
Last week’s first game of the 2026 World Cup for USMNT was an historic one.
Their 3-goal win was only the second-ever, tying their 1930 domination in the World Cup in Montevideo, Uruguay. That 1930 team was the best in USMNT history, and they finished in third place.
The United States also controlled the ball in the final third of the field an astounding 80.5% of the time. It was the fourth-highest amount for a World Cup team in their opening game since 1998, when the field was expanded to 32 teams per ESPN.
Plus, the red white and blue touched the ball 54 times in Paraguay’s penalty area, which is the third-most in World Cup history.
It was complete domination by USMNT.
Not only did they blow out Paraguay—which some equate to a 20-point NBA win or 23-point NFL win—but 18 million tuned in to watch the match. It was the most in English language broadcast history for FIFA.
Australia’s Socceroos present a potential challenge
Seven months ago, the United States and Australia battled in a friendly that was physical in Commerce City, at the home of the Colorado Rapids. That match was tied at the half 1-1.
But coach Pochettino went on a “rant” at halftime and hyped the team up.
Sebastian Berhalter explained of the talk saying,
“One is that we’re American and we don’t take sh*t” the midfielder said. “I think that’s something that he really put in (here).
“Even though he’s (Pochettino’s) Argentinian, he has that mindset of like, look, this is what we do and this is who we are and this is what America’s about. So even from the outside perspective, he showed us Americans what we’re about. He really drilled that into us.”
The US came out and Haji Wright scored in the 51st minute to push the lead to the eventual winning score of 2-1.
After the game, defender Chris Richards was extremely upset.
“They’re lucky it was a friendly. I was ready to go,” according to The Athletic. “And if (referee Kwinsi Williams) didn’t give me a sh*t yellow in the corner, I probably would’ve killed somebody.”
Australians aren’t ones to back down, though.
“We’re a very big team, a very physical team,” Allesandro Circati of Australia said. “Even players, which maybe you look at and they’re not the biggest players, I think they’re very, very physical. People go into challenges giving 100 percent. And if anything, I wouldn’t see it any less physical than the last game because now there’s big stakes on the line.”
Today’s match has a lot on the line, indeed.
USMNT already has 3 points, and a win would give them 6 points. That, combined with a Turkey loss later today would give the USA the Group D win.
A loss for the United States would open the door for either Australia or Turkey to take the Group.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. MT today, and will be televised on FOX and Peacock.