Christian Pulisic status revealed as USMNT legend calls for brute force to ‘protect’ Captain America

Christian Pulisic will be forced to miss the USA’s second World Cup match.

The announcement was made less than two hours before USMNT kicked off vs Australia on Friday at Lumen Field in Seattle during the 2026 World Cup.

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Pulisic practiced away from team all week

Ricardo Pepi is expected to replace the injured Pulisic, according to FOX Sports.

While former MLS and Leeds player Mike Grella was blasted by Australia supporters for his ‘arrogance,’ two former USMNT stars explained how the 2026 team could protect a healing Pulisic if he played vs the Socceroos.

Tim Howard, who was known as the Secretary of Defense as USMNT’s goalkeeper, said that Pulisic had to ‘pop up from the challenge’ if Australia ‘stuck straight into him’ during the initial 10 minutes of action in Seattle.

Howard said that teammates Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams and Chris Richards had to have Pulisic’s back on the pitch.

“Get into grips with people,” Howard said. “Start a fight.”

Landon Donovan backed Howard and went even farther.

“If I’m (USMNT captain) Tim Ream, probably just before kickoff, I go up to the referee and I say, ‘Here’s what’s going to happen. The first time Christian touches the ball, he’s gonna get smashed, and I better see a yellow card,’ ” said Donovan, who recorded 157 caps for USMNT.

“And if I don’t, when we retaliate, I better not see a yellow card. So, if you want to play that game all day, we’re gonna beat the s*** out of them. But I better not see a yellow card unless you give whoever smashes Christian a yellow card right away.’ “

The 27-year-old Pulisic is known to USMNT fans as Captain America.

Pochettino promised a Pulisic update

But he was pulled after the first half of a brilliant 4-1 World Cup-opening win vs Paraguay, then spent the week leading up to Australia by training away from his teammates while nursing a left calf injury.

“Christian will be ready, everyone. Let’s relax,” Adams said during the week.

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“I think he picked up a knock a few days before the match and got kicked in the same spot again during the match.

“I think that he picked up a knock a few days before the game, and I think he got kicked in the same spot again during the game.

“And when you go in at half-time, things obviously get tight within the 15, 20 minute break. But he’ll be fine.”

USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino was feeling the pressure of potentially not having the squad’s best-known player for a pivotal Group D match.

USA aiming for another sharp start

A meeting was held before the match to determine if Pulisic was fit for action vs the Socceroos.

“We will assess the whole group, and tomorrow we will communicate (if he’s going to play),” Pochettino said.

But the news arrived before kickoff that Pulisic wasn’t fit to play, despite the reassurances from Adams.

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