The United States team will play against Australia this Friday, June 19 in the city of Seattle, for the second day of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, so that the team led by the Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino They will try to repeat what they achieved on the first date, when they beat Paraguay 4-1.
The American team will seek its second consecutive victory at home after facing its first major inconvenientbecause the formation of the starting eleven generated doubts since last Friday, June 12: Christian Pulisica figure of the United States team, missed most of the workouts of the week.
Given this situation, Christian Pulisic He was left out of the United States team’s starting eleven for the second game of the Group D against Australia, failing to recover from a discomfort in the calf and his place will be taken by Ricardo Pepia center forward with great physical power, lethal definition inside the area and notable mobility.
Christian Pulisic has dealt with a injury which forced him to leave the match against Paraguay in the second half and now he is not even among the substitutesso the United States must seek victory without one of the referents and best players from Mauricio Pochettino’s squad, who placed his trust in Ricardo Pepi.
Christian Pulisic’s injury
According to the American television network TUDNChristian Pulisic was not included in the call of the United States team due to various discomforts in the hamstrings of the left leg, a group of three muscles located at the back of the thigh, which has been dragging for the last few days.
The figure from the United States worked separately throughout the week and could not arrive in conditions to the match against Australia, so it is a loss sensitive for the team led by Pochettino, which arrives motivated after its resounding victory against Paraguay, a match in which Pulisic had to leave the field.
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The Argentine technical director explained that the attacker American, of 27 yearsreceived a kick in the part later of the left calf during a training session prior to the match against Paraguay and felt a inconvenience during the match played in Los Angelesso he had to be substituted at half-time.
“As you know, Christian was training on his own all week. As always, we had a meeting with our medical equipment and we evaluate the entire group. Pulisic is improving and is better than before; We’ll see for the third day”Pochettino said in a press conference prior to the match against Australia.
USA lineup against Australia
Pochettino came to the conclusion that Pulisic was not even fit to be alternate and it was not worth risking it, so the figure will watch the game against Australia from the stands of the Lumen Fieldin Seattle, Washington. There, the American team will try to secure the leadership of the Group D and qualification to the next round.
Compared to the lineup against Paraguay, the Argentine only made one change: the substitution of Pulisic for Pepi; so that the player of the PSV Eindhoven You must show the skills that led you to Netherlandswhere it has been characterized by its great aerial game and their ability to participate in the creation of plays.
STARTING IN SEATTLE! 🫡#USMNT x The @HomeDepot pic.twitter.com/wqyncaR7SS
— US Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) June 19, 2026