The United States (US) suffered a major setback ahead of their crucial FIFA World Cup clash against Australia after star striker Christian Pulisic was ruled out due to injury.
The United States men’s national team (USMNT) confirmed that Pulisic will miss Friday’s Group D encounter after failing to recover from a calf injury suffered in the team’s World Cup opener against Paraguay.
Injury concerns had dominated discussions throughout the week as the U.S. captain trained separately from his teammates while undergoing rehabilitation.
Pulisic was substituted at halftime in the United States’ 4-1 win over Paraguay after suffering a kick to his left calf. Although team officials initially remained optimistic about his recovery, the AC Milan striker was ultimately deemed unavailable for the showdown against Australia.
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino confirmed the decision shortly before kick-off, while expressing confidence that the winger’s condition was improving. According to reports, Ricardo Pepi replaced Pulisic in the starting lineup as the only change made by the American side.
The 27-year-old’s absence is a blow for the hosts, who approached the tournament with high expectations. Pulisic played a key role in the win over Paraguay, recording an assist and helping create another goal before being sent off due to discomfort.
