The AC Milan forward is America’s talisman and his form will be crucial to the team’s chances of advancing.
Published June 13, 2026
United States star Christian Pulisic was substituted at halftime in the opening game of the FIFA World Cup co-hosts’ match against Paraguay in Los Angeles on Friday, allaying injury concerns.
The 27-year-old told reporters at SoFi Stadium that the substitution was just a precaution.
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“I just got hit a little bit in the first half, so I’m hoping it’s nothing. I’m taking a little bit of precaution today, but I hope it’ll be okay in the next few days,” Pulisic said.
The AC Milan forward is the talisman of the American team, and he carries the weight of the nation’s expectations as he attempts to make history by storming into the World Cup, which will be held in his home country for the first time in 32 years.
Why did Pulisic come on as a substitute?
Pulisic was a constant threat in a frantic first half, providing an assist and also helping create Paraguay’s own goal with a deft one-two with Weston McKennie.
However, he was sent off at half-time and later told reporters he had bruised the “sole of his foot.”
“(Left) It feels like it’s in my calf area. But I’ve had something similar before, so I’m staying positive. I don’t think it’s a problem at all.”
Manager Mauricio Pochettino also said the forward was substituted because he “didn’t want to take any risks”.
The United States will hope Pulisic’s words are correct ahead of their next game against Australia in Seattle on Friday and the final group game against Tolkier on June 25 in Los Angeles.
“It’s a great start, but there’s still a lot of work to do,” Pulisic said.
With this victory, the United States moved to the top of Group D with three points, but Paraguay sank to last place. The remaining two teams in the group, Australia and Turkiye, will play each other later on Saturday.
The top two teams in each of the 12 groups and the top eight third-place teams will advance to the final tournament, which begins in the round of 32.
Al Jazeera’s dedicated page for the 2026 FIFA World Cup allows you to track the progress of the match with all the latest news, match developments and live text commentary, and stay up to date with group standings, real-time results and schedule.
