Pulisic Out, Pepi In
Christian Pulisic will miss the United States’ World Cup encounter with Australia after a calf strain forced him out of training this week. The forward had been a key contributor in the 4‑1 win over Paraguay, but a minor injury sustained in practice prompted the coaching staff to hold him back.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino said he remains hopeful that Pulisic can return before the tournament’s latter stages, but emphasized the need to protect the player from a more serious setback. In his absence, Ricardo Pepi was drafted into the XI, a move that caught many observers off guard because Pochettino usually favors Folarin Balogun in that role.
The surprise selection of Pepi came despite earlier speculation that other candidates such as Tim Weah, Alex Zendejas, Sebastian Berhalter or Gio Reyna might get the nod. In the opening game, Berhalter had temporarily covered for Pulisic while Malik Tillman operated in a more advanced position, but the final decision settled on Pepi.
U.S. officials are proceeding with caution, aware that rushing Pulisic could jeopardize his long‑term availability. The team’s medical staff will monitor his recovery closely, hoping to have him back for future fixtures without compromising fitness.