Christian Pulisic sat out the USMNT’s morning training session in Irvine, California, adding another layer of anxiety to a World Cup buildup that was supposed to feel like a celebration. The most recognizable face in American soccer is nursing a calf issue at a moment when thousands of fans are showing up just to watch the team stretch.
Here’s the thing: the US is co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This is the biggest soccer moment in American history, and the guy who makes the whole thing tick is currently watching from the sideline with ice on his leg.
What happened to Pulisic
The injury traces back to a training incident on June 7, 2026, when Pulisic took a kick to the back of his left calf. Two days later, he started in the USMNT’s opening World Cup match against Paraguay but was pulled at halftime.
The US won that game 4-1, so the result wasn’t the problem. The optics were.
