Why Christian Pulisic isn't starting for USA tonight, and if he might play vs. Türkiye after injury
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Why Christian Pulisic isn't starting for USA tonight, and if he might play vs. Türkiye after injury originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Christian Pulisic was brilliant in the first 45 minutes of the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the United States.
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The USMNT star hasn't taken the pitch since, and that remains true to start against Turkiye on Thursday night in the final match of Group D play.
It's a key storyline, of course, with the U.S. dreaming big at this tournament at home.
With Pulisic able to play against Turkey, the injury clearly is not too severe. Now, the star cane be more ready for knockout-stage play.
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Why isn't Christian Pulisic starting tonight?
Pulisic is on the bench as he continues to recover from a calf injury sustained in the first half of the opening match against Paraguay.
He has returned to training, and so there are signs of optimism.
But head coach Mauricio Pochettino is playing it careful with Pulisic.
The U.S. has already clinched the top spot in the group, so starting Pulisic wasn't particularly necessary on Thursday.
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Could Christian Pulisic play as a sub vs. Turkiye?
In the 57th minute of Thursday night's match against Turkey, Pulisic entered the pitch. At the time, the game was a 2-2 draw, and Pochettino most likely wanted his star to stretch his legs before their Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
It's risky, of course, coming off an injury in a game that doesn't mean anything for the standings.
But the U.S. is trying to balance that with having Pulisic be sharp, so there's a chance he gets into the game.