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The U.S. may face Australia in the World Cup without star Christian Pulisic
+631 words added -747 words removed
Special Series Soccer Edition Follow the World Cup in the NPR App Find Your Station Sign up for Up First for Soccer Edition on Tuesdays The 2026 FIFA World Cup is from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Sixteen host cities across North America, including Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Seattle, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Boston, Kansas City, Miami, and New York/New Jersey in the United States. The NPR Network will have coverage from across the country leading up to and during the championship.
Soccer Edition Your cheat sheet to the 26 players on the U.S.
Turkey, whose roster features stars like Arda Güler of Real Madrid and Kenan Yıldız of Juventus, had been considered by some analysts to be the strongest team in the group.
In fact, they play for Turkey
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− U.S.
+ No Pulisic, no problem: U.S.
− leads 2-0 over Australia in key World Cup game as star Christian Pulisic sits Updated June 19, 20261:56 PM ET Originally published June 19, 20265:00 AM ET By
Becky Sullivan
,
Russell Lewis
Alex Freeman #16 of the United States heads to score the team's second goal during the first half of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Australia in Seattle on Friday.
+ tops Australia 2-0 in World Cup despite missing its star Updated June 19, 20265:03 PM ET Originally published June 19, 20265:00 AM ET By
Becky Sullivan
,
Russell Lewis
Alex Freeman #16 of the United States heads to score the team's second goal during the first half of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Australia in Seattle on Friday.
− Emilee Chinn/Getty Images hide caption
Editor's Note: The U.S.
+ Emilee Chinn/Getty Images hide caption
SEATTLE — For days, questions about the health of star winger Christian Pulisic's left calf had loomed large over the U.S.
− strikes first!
+ men's national soccer team: After being kicked in the leg during last week's Paraguay game, would he be available in the pivotal second U.S.
− In the 11th minute, forward Folarin Balogun drove the ball hard up the left sideline and toward the goal, and his pass inside was knocked into the goal by Australian defender Cameron Burgess. The Americans lead 1-0.
+ game of the FIFA World Cup?
− A goal from Alex Freeman in the 43rd minute makes it 2-0 for the U.S.! A tussle over the ball near the corner set up a free kick for the Americans. Freeman was in place to knock in the rebound off a shot by Sergiño Dest.
———————-
SEATTLE — The star of the United States men's national team, Christian Pulisic, will not play in the team's important World Cup game Friday against Australia.
− World Cup team About 90 minutes before kickoff, head coach Mauricio Pochettino told Fox that Pulisic is unavailable due to a nagging left calf injury suffered in the team's opening match against Paraguay. "It is hoped, as soon as possible, [he] can be ready to be selected again to be part of the team," Pochettino said.
+ World Cup team In the end, it didn't matter.
− The group stage game against Australia, set for 3 p.m.
+ The U.S.
− Eastern time at Lumen Field in Seattle, will be pivotal in determining the U.S.'s knockout-stage seeding.
+ dominated Friday's match against Australia, winning 2-0 even as Pulisic, who was ultimately deemed unavailable before kickoff, watched his teammates from the sidelines.
− Both the U.S. and Australia won their openers — the U.S. over Paraguay 4-1 and Australia over Turkey 2-0 — meaning the winner of Friday's game between the two teams will be in the driver's seat to win the group.
+ The scoring started early when American striker Folarin Balogun streaked down the left side of the field and powered a pass into the penalty area, where Australian defender Cameron Burgess booted it into his net for an own goal in the 11th minute.
− In Pulisic's absence, forward Ricardo Pepi will start Friday.
+ "I want to be dangerous.
− Pepi has appeared in four matches for the U.S.
+ I want to create opportunities.
− in 2026 and logged two assists, one against Belgium in March and the second against Senegal in May.
Craig O'Donoghue and his son (right) catch a Seattle Mariners game while in town for the FIFA men's World Cup on Thursday, June 18, 2026.
+ And it might not always be myself that scores, but if I can force an error that gives us the lead, for me that's like a goal as well," Balogun said.
− KUOW Photo/ Casey Martin hide caption
Craig O'Donoghue and his son (right) catch a Seattle Mariners game while in town for the FIFA men's World Cup on Thursday, June 18, 2026.
+ "It was a special start to the game to give us the momentum, and then I think we carried it out."
The U.S.
− KUOW Photo/ Casey Martin hide caption
Pulisic's absence on the left side could spell trouble for the Americans.
+ added a second goal when defender Alex Freeman knocked in a header just before halftime.
− He was key in creating two of the Americans' three first-half goals against Paraguay.
+ The chippy match resulted in seven total yellow cards, three for the U.S.
− Then, after being kicked in the leg by a Paraguayan player, he exited last Friday's game at halftime.
+ on defenders Antonee Robinson and Chris Richards and Balogun.
After the game, U.S.
− The difference in the U.S.
+ head coach Mauricio Pochettino praised his team and their approach.
− performance between the first and second half, after Pulisic was replaced, was noticeable. Paraguay scored its only goal after halftime.
+ "We build the victory in our attitude," he said.
− "Christian is a really important player for us.
+ The win guarantees that the U.S.
− He can be really dangerous on the wing side," said teammate and midfielder Sergiño Dest.
Pulisic had been training individually all week long.
+ will advance to the knockout stage of the tournament, and it puts the Americans in the driver's seat to win Group D.
− On Thursday, Pochettino said Pulisic had been improving and was making a "massive effort trying to be ready" to play against Australia.
+ That would set up the team for a more advantageous path through the knockout round, which begins Sunday, June 28.
− Christian Pulisic (L) practices on his own, away from other U.S.
+ Cristian Volpato #20 of Australia and Weston McKennie #8 of the United States battle for the ball during the team's World Cup Group D match on Friday in Seattle.
− players, during a training session for the 2026 World Cup at the team's training facility in Irvine, Calif.
+ Emilee Chinn/Getty Images hide caption
About 90 minutes before kickoff, Pochettino told Fox that Pulisic would be unavailable due to the nagging left calf injury suffered last Friday.
− on Wednesday.
+ "It is hoped, as soon as possible, [that he] can be ready to be selected again to be part of the team," Pochettino said.
In his place, forward Ricardo Pepi made the start on the left side.
− Jamie Squire/Getty Images hide caption
The third and final U.S.
+ For Freeman, his first career World Cup goal was the latest step in a remarkable trajectory for a 21-year-old player who made his first appearance for the U.S.
− group stage game, in which the Americans will face Turkey, is scheduled for next Thursday, June 25.
+ national team just over a year ago.
− Australia comes into Friday's game tied in the Group D standings with the U.S.
+ It was unclear whether Pulisic would be available for the third and final U.S.
− after their 2-0 win over Turkey last week.
+ group stage game, a match against Turkey set for next Thursday.
Soccer Edition FAQ: How World Cup fans and workers can stay safe in the heat Whether that game will matter depends on the outcome of Friday night's Turkey-Paraguay matchup; if Turkey draws or loses, the U.S.
+ is guaranteed the top spot. If Turkey wins, that sets up next week's head-to-head game to determine the group winner.
− Soccer Edition FAQ: How World Cup fans and workers can stay safe in the heat The last time the U.S.
+ The U.S.
− faced Australia was in an international friendly match in October 2025. It was a chippy, foul-filled game that the Americans won 2-1. Pulisic left that game with an injury to his right leg after being tripped by Australian defender Jason Geria.
+ victory over Australia was the second win in the group stage — the first time the American men have done that in a World Cup since 1930.
− "They're a very physical team.
+ Due to an editing error, a previous version of this story said Güler and Yıldız played for Australia.
− They have guys in the back. I think crosses in the box will be very hard to get past them, and they have speed up top for counterattacks," said midfielder Weston McKennie on Thursday. "It's going to be a battle, I know that for sure, and a rough one as well."
Due to an editing error, a previous version of this story said Güler and Yıldız played for Australia.