Pochettino calls – Mauricio Pochettino called Christian Pulisic “good” after the star missed group training on June 15 with a left-calf injury. Tyler Adams echoed that reassurance, urging the public to “relax” ahead of the USMNT’s June 19 World Cup match against Australia, while
IRVINE, CA — Christian Pulisic’s calf injury has been the kind of concern that can linger over a team’s next match, but the USMNT’s messages out of training have stayed steady: calm, and wait to see.
Mauricio Pochettino delivered that tone when he told reporters that Pulisic was “good. ” offering a positive update on the star player’s left-calf problem. Pulisic, however, did not train with the rest of the group on June 15. Instead, three days after leaving the World Cup opener at halftime with the issue, he worked on his own.
Inside the limited window when media could watch practice. Pulisic spent a little more than 10 minutes on the field with some training staff. His session was focused on testing the calf, including lunges and hops from one leg to another. After that, he went back into the team gym and got on an exercise bike. At one point during the session, Pochettino went in and talked with Pulisic for a few minutes.
Earlier in the day, Pochettino had already set expectations with reporters in an informal session. “He’s good,” he said.
That view was echoed by Tyler Adams, one of Pulisic’s closer teammates. When asked whether he was worried about Pulisic’s status for the USMNT’s next game against Australia on June 19, Adams used a familiar line from NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
“Christian will be ready everyone. Let’s relax,” Adams said.
Adams added that he believes the injury has repeated in the same area. “I think that he picked up a knock a few days before the game and I think he got kicked in the same spot again during the game. ” he said of Pulisic. He pointed to the timing of the exit as another reason the team may be approaching the injury with extra care. “And when you go in at halftime, things obviously get tight within the 15, 20-minute break. But he’ll be fine.”.
The June 15 training day also reflected how closely the staff is tracking the situation. Pulisic was not among the select group of players U.S. Soccer made available to the media that day.
Pulisic’s World Cup opener against Paraguay ended in a 4-1 victory. but the injury moment came early and stuck with the team. He was kicked in the left calf during the first half and exited the game at halftime. After the match. Pulisic told reporters: “Bit of a kick in the first half. so I’m really hoping that it’s nothing. 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.”.
His coach at the time, Mauricio Pichettino, also described how quickly the situation was evolving. During his postgame news conference, he said it was a last-minute decision and that they were rushing to figure out the substitution. “Hope it’s not a big issue,” Pichettino said.
If Pulisic cannot play against Australia in Seattle, the USMNT has options. Tim Weah. who came off the bench against Paraguay. is an obvious alternative. though he typically operates more as a winger than Pulisic. who tends to float inside and find space between the opposition’s midfield and defense.
Pochettino could also start Gio Reyna, after a standout cameo against Paraguay that included a last-gasp goal with the outside of his foot. Reyna brings a different skill set than Pulisic, using guile and technical ability to break down defenses rather than the dynamism Pulisic offers.
Other attacking choices include Alejandro Zendejas, Haji Wright and Brenden Aaronson, each of whom did not see the field against Paraguay. Zendejas and Aaronson are described as options who can replicate Pulisic’s ability to drive at defenders and put them under pressure.
Taken together. the messages from the training ground and the staff point to one priority: treat the calf seriously enough to test it. but not so seriously that the team loses the chance to plan around Pulisic. Pulisic’s work on June 15 was targeted—lunges. hops and an exercise bike—while Pochettino and Adams kept repeating the same bottom line: he is expected to be ready.
The stakes are immediate. The USA national team began the World Cup placed in Group D and ranked No. 16 in the FIFA World Rankings.
June 12: USA def. Paraguay, 4-1.
June 19: USA vs Australia, 3 p.m. ET, Lumen Field, Seattle on FOX.
June 25: USA vs Turkey, 10 p.m. ET, Sofi Stadium, Inglewood, California on FOX.
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World Cup TV Schedule for June 16 (all times Eastern and accurate as of Monday, June 15, 2026, at 12:21 p.m.):
3 p.m. – France vs Senegal (Group I) on Fox from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. 6 p.m. – Iraq vs Norway (Group I) on Fox from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. 9 p.m. – Argentina vs Algeria (Group J) on Fox from Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. 11:59 p.m. – Austria vs Jordan (Group J) on FS1 from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Group Stage: June 11-June 27.
Round of 32: June 28-July 3.
Round of 16: July 4-7.
Quarterfinals: July 9-11.
Semifinals: July 14-15.
Third-place game: July 18 (Miami Gardens, Florida).
Final: July 19 (East Rutherford, New Jersey).
USMNT Christian Pulisic Mauricio Pochettino Tyler Adams calf injury World Cup 2026 Australia vs USA Lumen Field Tim Weah Gio Reyna