Pulisic set for USMNT return as Pochettino weighs rotation ahead of Turkiye clash
Forward Christian Pulisic is expected to return from a calf injury, but head coach Mauricio Pochettino is likely to rotate the lineup to manage fitness and yellow card suspensions ahead of the knockout stages.
Christian Pulisic is expected to return to the US men’s national team squad for Thursday’s World Cup group stage finale against Turkiye, following a short-term calf injury that sidelined him for the 2-0 victory over Australia on Friday. The forward, who missed the previous match, has resumed modified training sessions with the squad and expressed confidence in his readiness for the encounter at SoFi Stadium.
The injury originated from a knock sustained during the build-up to the team’s 4-1 win over Paraguay on June 12, which was aggravated by a kick in the first half of that game. Pulisic came off at halftime of the Paraguay match and subsequently missed training on Monday before joining modified sessions. He stated he has been working every single day, avoiding complete rest, and believes he has maintained his sharpness despite the absence from the pitch.
Despite his return, Pulisic does not expect to play the full 90 minutes. He cited standard post-injury protocols and the low stakes of the match as factors influencing his potential minutes. The USMNT have already topped Group D, while Turkiye has been mathematically eliminated, rendering the fixture effectively a dead rubber. Pulisic noted he would discuss any restrictions with coaches and medical staff, acknowledging it is unlikely he will play the full duration immediately upon return.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino is likely to utilise the match to manage squad fitness and mitigate suspension risks ahead of the knockout stages. Several key players, including Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun, Chris Richards, and Antonee Robinson, have already received yellow cards in the first two games. A further booking against Turkiye would result in suspension for the Round of 32, which is scheduled to begin on July 1.
Midfielder Cristian Roldan remains a concern, having missed a third consecutive day of training with a muscle strain described as day-to-day. However, Pulisic emphasised the depth of the squad, noting that the team demonstrated strong performance and resilience in his absence against Australia. He expressed support for any player given the opportunity to step up, highlighting the collective strength of the group as they prepare for the next phase of the tournament.
