Christian Pulisic has declared himself 100% fit and ready to play in the United States' final group stage match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Türkiye. The forward had been sidelined with a calf injury, which kept him out of the second half of the opening match against Paraguay and the subsequent game against Australia.
Pulisic, a key player for the U.S. Men's National Team (USMNT), confirmed his recovery status to FOX Sports' Jenny Taft. "Yeah, I'm feeling great. I think the team's feeling great. I've been able to join the team the last few days, and I'm feeling healthy and ready to go for this game," Pulisic said. When asked if he was at full strength, he responded, "Yeah, I would say so. I would say definitely yesterday I felt very close, and I would say 100%."
The USMNT has already secured the top spot in Group D after winning their first two matches, meaning this final group stage game against Türkiye does not impact their progression to the knockout rounds. The decision on whether Pulisic will play rests with head coach Mauricio Pochettino, who faces a choice between risking a fully recovered star in a game with no bearing on seeding or preserving him for the more critical Round of 32 match.
An argument can be made for Pulisic to gain further match sharpness. Despite his veteran status, he has played only one half in the tournament so far. Some game action against an international opponent could be beneficial for his rhythm before the win-or-go-home stage begins.
Coach Pochettino also needs to consider players carrying yellow cards. Antonee Robinson, Chris Richards, Folarin Balogun, and Tyler Adams are all one booking away from a one-match suspension, which would rule them out of the Round of 32.
Pulisic has a history of dealing with injuries, having had limited minutes for his club, AC Milan, since early May. He also saw limited playing time in several U.S. friendly matches leading up to the World Cup. However, Pulisic has maintained that minutes do not affect his on-field sharpness.
Following their 3-1 victory, the U.S. is slated to face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32.