Christian Pulisic's fitness for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D clash between co-hosts USA and Australia on Saturday remained uncertain, with head coach Mauricio Pochettino confirming on Friday at Seattle Stadium that a final call would follow an evening meeting with his medical team.

Pochettino's Assessment

Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Pochettino struck a cautiously optimistic note about the AC Milan winger's condition. 'Tonight, we have a meeting with our medical staff. We will assess the whole group,' he told reporters. 'Christian is strong, with a great mentality. He's evolving and much better from Friday. We will see. If we see he's not available for tomorrow, he will be available for the next game. I think he's doing a massive effort trying to be ready.'

The Injury Concern

Pulisic has been managing a left calf injury that forced him off at halftime during the USA's 4-1 win over Paraguay in the group stage opener at Los Angeles Stadium. The 27-year-old has trained away from the main squad for a fourth consecutive day, according to reports. He was seen arriving at the US training base in Seattle wearing a protective sleeve on his calf before briefly joining teammates for a pre-training huddle, then departing with medical staff to train separately in the gym.

His absence from the Paraguay match after halftime opened the door for midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, one of seven USA players to make their FIFA World Cup debut in that game.

What's at Stake in Group D

Saturday's contest is a top-of-the-table Group D showdown, with both the USA and Australia entering on the back of winning starts. A victory for either side would secure qualification to the Round of 16. Australia impressed in their opener by defeating Türkiye, a result Pochettino acknowledged with respect.

'We're so happy to arrive in this moment knowing that Australia is going to be a really tough opponent. They beat a very difficult team, a great team, in Türkiye. Only we can show, like the draw, our full respect to them, but at the same time, we want to beat them. We are ready to fight,' Pochettino said.

Broader Context

Pulisic is central to the USA's attacking identity and his absence — even partial — would represent a significant blow to Pochettino's plans. This comes amid heightened scrutiny on the co-hosts, who are expected to advance deep into the tournament on home soil. The Group D table currently has both nations level on points, making Saturday's match effectively a first-place decider ahead of the final group round.

A final decision on Pulisic's availability is expected later on Friday evening, following the medical staff review.