Christian Pulisic's World Cup campaign concluded with injury heartbreak and a frustrating performance in the United States' round of 16 loss to Belgium. Pulisic, who had shone in earlier matches, struggled with intense defensive pressure throughout the game at Lumen Field in Seattle.
From the opening whistle, Belgium's strategy focused on denying Pulisic space and time on the ball. Experienced defenders applied constant pressure, closed down passing lanes, and prevented him from dictating play as he had in previous games. For much of the match, Pulisic appeared rushed and uncharacteristically hesitant, often forcing passes or attempting to dribble through multiple defenders.
By halftime, Pulisic had lost possession 11 times, more than any other player on the field. Despite the difficulties, he made a determined effort to create opportunities. Early in the second half, he drove towards the Belgian penalty area, but his attempt to shoot resulted in an ankle twist. He crumpled to the ground, clutching his right foot after his boot clipped a Belgian defender. Replays indicated it was not a foul, and Pulisic limped off the field.
"I just totally twisted my ankle in that one play," Pulisic said after the match. "It was just an unfortunate way to finish."
Shortly after Pulisic's injury, Belgium capitalized on a defensive lapse to take the lead. In the 59th minute, U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino substituted Pulisic for Sebastian Berhalter. Pulisic expressed his disappointment on the bench, describing the injury and elimination as "tough" to deal with but proud of his teammates.
Reflecting on his overall World Cup performance, Pulisic stated, "I thought my level was high at times, but it’s disappointing overall. I didn’t quite have the moments I was hoping to have and I really want to help push us to get over this next step and beat a really good team. I’m disappointed, but I’ll be back and we’re going to figure it out."