World Cup 2026: Christian Pulisic won't start for USMNT's group stage finale against Türkiye

Christian Pulisic is on the bench for the United States men's national team match against Türkiye on Thursday night in Los Angeles. The 27-year-old Pulisic has not played since suffering a left calf injury during the first half of the USMNT's World Cup opening win over Paraguay on June 12 . He had worked on the side during training sessions with athletic trainers and was close to returning for the team's 2-0 win over Australia last Friday in Seattle. As Pulisic watched, Pochettino went with two strikers with Ricardo Pepi paired with Folarin Balogun up front. After working in with the rest of the squad earlier this week, Pulisic told reporters that he would be available for the Türkiye match. "I'm feeling good," Pulisic said on Wednesday . "I joined the team the last couple days, and yeah, I'm hoping to play a part in tomorrow, for sure." The U.S. has already clinched Group D and earned a place in the round of 32. After Türkiye, they begin knockout stage play on July 1 at Levi's Stadium in Santa, Clara California. In order to protect them for the Round of 32, Pochettino has also sat Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, each of whom picked up yellow cards in the opening two matches. Players who accumulate two cautions during the group stage are subject to a one-game suspension. Once the knockout rounds begin, yellow card accumulations are reset.