USMNT's Christian Pulisic subbed off after 'kick' during 4-1 win over Paraguay — 'I'm really hoping that it's nothing'

June 13, 2026 - 07:31

Christian Pulisic was forced to leave the field early during the United States men's national team's dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay on Tuesday night, raising concerns about a potential injury. The AC Milan winger went down after what he described as a "kick" to his lower leg during the second half of the friendly match in Kansas City.

Pulisic was seen limping heavily as he made his way to the sideline, where he was immediately evaluated by team medical staff. After a brief discussion, the decision was made to substitute him out of the game as a precaution. Following the match, Pulisic downplayed the severity of the incident, telling reporters, "Taking a little bit of precaution tonight but I'm hoping I'll be fine in the next few days."

The 25-year-old has been a key figure for the USMNT, especially with the Copa America tournament on the horizon this summer. His early exit naturally sparked concern among fans and teammates alike. Head coach Gregg Berhalter echoed Pulisic's cautious optimism, stating, "I'm really hoping that it's nothing serious. We didn't want to take any risks."

The U.S. squad delivered a strong performance overall, with goals from several players, but the focus quickly shifted to Pulisic's condition. He is expected to undergo further evaluation in the coming days to determine the extent of the injury. For now, both the player and the coaching staff are keeping a positive outlook, hoping the knock is minor and that he will be ready for the next round of international fixtures.