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Is Christian Pulisic playing tonight? Latest UMSNT team news for World Cup game vs. Turkey originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The United States survived without star Christian Pulisic against Australia, winning 2-0 and later capturing top spot in Group D, but the Americans would like their standout back sooner rather than later in the World Cup.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino indicated Pulisic's absence would only be one game, but the results last Friday threw a wrinkle into the decision: Thursday's game is meaningless for both the USA and Turkey, which raises the question of whether it makes sense to simply rest Pulisic.
With a likely date against Bosnia and Herzegovina approaching in the knockout stage, will Pulisic get back on the field against Turkey?
Here's what you need to know about Pulisic's status.
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Is Christian Pulisic playing tonight?
Pulisic told reporters Wednesday that he is "feeling good" and "hoping to play" against Turkey on Friday after missing the match vs. Australia with a calf injury.
Still, the 27-year-old conceded that he likely wouldn't play the full 90 minutes. "Obviously, not a good chance I'll probably go and play 90 right away normally after you come back and miss a game, but we'll see," he said.
A minutes restriction might make sense simply because the United States has little to gain against Turkey, and nothing to gain in terms of their placement in the bracket. The U.S. has already won Group D and is almost certain to face Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1.
If playing 90 minutes is tough after missing one match, however, Thursday could be an opportunity for Pulisic to get his feet under him in a low-stakes contest before going full throttle against Bosnia.
Here are more details about Pulisic's injury.
MORE:What to know about projected USA opponent Bosnia and Herzegovina
What happened to Christian Pulisic?
Pulisic was subbed off during the United States' win over Paraguay on June 12 after being kicked in the calf late in the first half.
The USA star was previously kicked in the calf in practice two days earlier, Pochettino said, calling Pulisic's removal "precautionary."
After the win, Pulisic told reporters he hoped the injury was "nothing."
"Just the back of my leg, my calf area," Pulisic said. "But I've had similar things before and I'm staying positive. I don't think it's anything at all."
While it may not be a long-term injury, it wasn't nothing. Pulisic missed the match against Australia a week after exiting vs. Paraguay, but a return on Thursday would be a positive development for a team with high aspirations.
MORE:What to know about calf injuries in soccer
Christian Pulisic injury update
Pulisic's exact injury is unclear, as he is dealing with a calf issue but hasn't revealed whether he sustained a muscle strain, but he now says he is getting close to full strength.
"Definitely yesterday I felt very close and, I would say 100 percent," Pulisic said on Wednesday, a day before the USA's battle with Turkey.
USA match schedule and results
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | Venue |
| June 12 | USA 4, Paraguay 1 | 9 p.m. | SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA) |
| June 19 | USA 2, Australia 0 | 3 p.m. | Lumen Field (Seattle, WA) |
| June 25 | Turkey vs. USA | 10 p.m. | SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA) |
| July 1 | USA vs. TBD | 8 p.m. | Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara, CA) |
The United States is already locked into a Round of 32 matchup on July 1 in Santa Clara, with kickoff set for 8 p.m. ET. Barring a series of unlikely, events, the U.S. will face Bosnia and Herzegovina.
MORE:How the World Cup 2026 bracket works — and which teams know their next opponents
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