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Team USA’s last group stage match in the 2026 FIFA World Cup doesn’t matter in terms of winning Group D – they’ve already done it after victories in their first two matches against Paraguay and Australia.
But the status of Christian Pulisic remains a topic of conversation for the USMNT, as he didn’t play against Australia after suffering a calf injury that kept him out of the second half of their opening match against Paraguay.
But Pulisic told FOX Sports’ Jenny Taft just how he’s felt in the practices leading up to the final group stage match against Türkiye.
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“Yeah, I’m feeling great. I think the team’s feeling great. I’ve been able to join the team the last few days, and I’m feeling healthy and ready to go for this game,” he said.
That’s certainly a good thing to hear for the USMNT, and even more so when Pulisic answered Taft’s follow-up question: Is he 100%?
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“Yeah, I would say so,” he responded. “I would say definitely yesterday I felt very close, and I would say 100%.”
The question now becomes whether head coach Mauricio Pochettino wants to risk playing Pulisic in a game that means nothing in terms of their spot in the knockout round.
One side of the argument is why risk another injury? The United States has done a fantastic job winning both matches to begin the tournament, and the real game that matters will be the Round of 32, where it becomes win-or-go-home territory. Team USA will need Pulisic 100% for certain that match and moving forward.
Then again, Pulisic has played only a single half in this tournament, and it would bode well for him to get some game action against an opponent rather than facing his teammates in a practice setting. Momentum and comfortability, even with a World Cup veteran like Pulisic, would do “Captain America” well to get going before the Round of 32.
Taft added that players have yet to be informed whether they will play. Pochettino may also need to be cautious with the four players carrying yellow cards: Antonee Robinson, Chris Richards, Folarin Balogun and Tyler Adams. Another booking would result in a one-match suspension, causing them to miss the Round of 32.
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Pulisic has dealt with injuries prior to the World Cup as well, having not played much since early May. He had three substitute appearances for his club, AC Milan, and didn’t play a full match in three U.S. friendlies leading into the World Cup.
Pulisic, however, has said that minutes do not affect his “sharpness,” and we’ll see whether the 100% healthy star is utilized by Pochettino on Thursday night in Los Angeles.
After their 3-1 win on Wednesday, it appears the United States will be facing off against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32.
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