Pulisic Trains Apart Fourth Day With Calf Injury; Pochettino Addresses Status

19 June 2026 · Source balance: Centre

Christian Pulisic of the US Men's National Team trained separately from teammates for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday due to a left calf injury sustained during World Cup preparation. The 27-year-old AC Milan winger left Friday's 4-1 opening match victory over Paraguay at halftime after being kicked in an area he'd previously injured in training. His status for Friday's crucial Group D match against Australia remains uncertain and day-to-day. Manager Mauricio Pochettino said the team is evaluating all options and will decide on replacements if needed. Potential substitutes include Brenden Aaronson, Tim Weah, and Gio Reyna. Pochettino expressed cautious optimism, saying Pulisic is evolving and much better, while teammates hope he recovers in time. The World Cup's expanded format provides a seven-day gap between matches, giving Pulisic additional recovery time compared to past tournaments.