Christian Pulisic returned to training with the USMNT on Monday, June 22, setting the stage for the team’s final Group D match against Türkiye. The United States currently holds a 2-0 record and six points, guaranteeing a spot in the knockout rounds regardless of Thursday’s result. The upcoming fixture at SoFi Stadium gives head coach Mauricio Pochettino the clear option to rest his star winger or limit his minutes, as Türkiye is mathematically eliminated with zero points and two consecutive losses.
Key Details
- Pulisic missed the 2-0 win over Australia on June 19 due to a left calf injury.
- The AC Milan forward participated in warmups and ball drills during the open media portion of practice at the team’s base in Orange County, California.
- The USMNT’s next critical test is a Round of 32 knockout match in Santa Clara scheduled for July 1.
Pulisic originally suffered the calf tightness during the 4-1 win over Paraguay. That opening match currently stands as the highest-scoring World Cup performance in American history. Pochettino opted to keep the forward completely sidelined during the subsequent victory against Australia to ensure he recovered for the high-stakes knockout stages of the tournament.
Teammates expressed confidence in his recovery timeline during recent media availability. Midfielder Tyler Adams addressed the situation directly, telling reporters, “Christian will be ready, everyone. Let’s relax.” Winger Alex Zendejas confirmed the squad is trying to keep the mood light at the Orange County facility, noting they prefer to “get his mind off of it” rather than asking him about the injury constantly.