Pulisic Subbed at Halftime After Minor Knock in U.S. World Cup Opener

The United States opened the 2026 World Cup with a convincing 4-1 win over Paraguay in its tournament debut, and Christian Pulisic was central to the celebration in the first half. The U.S. star impressed early and assisted one of the match’s best goals, but his night ended after only 45 minutes when coach Mauricio Pochettino replaced him at halftime.

The substitution raised immediate questions about Pulisic’s condition, but both player and coach later said it was a precaution. Speaking to Fox after the game, Pulisic said he had taken a light blow to the thigh in the first half and hoped it was nothing serious. “I took a little kick in the thigh in the first half, I really hope it’s nothing,” he said. “I took extra caution today, but I hope I’ll be okay in the coming days.”

Pochettino gave a similar explanation, saying Pulisic felt slightly unwell and the staff chose not to take risks. “He felt a little unwell, and we did not want to take any chances. He was substituted out of caution,” the coach said.

The U.S. has six days before its next match, against Australia, giving Pulisic time to recover. Pochettino and his staff will hope he is ready to continue the strong form he showed in the opening win.