Pulisic Shines in USMNT World Cup Opener, Then Subbed Amid Injury Fears
Published June 13, 2026
Christian Pulisic delivered a stellar performance in the USMNT's 2026 World Cup debut against Paraguay, playing a crucial role in their dominant first half before being surprisingly substituted at halftime, sparking immediate injury concerns.
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The United States Men's National Team kicked off their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a resounding first-half performance against Paraguay, largely orchestrated by star attacker Christian Pulisic. Despite prior anxieties surrounding his recent goal-scoring drought for both club and country, Pulisic quickly dispelled doubts with a dynamic display at SoFi Stadium on Friday night.
Pulisic was instrumental in the USMNT's early surge. His relentless pressure led to an own goal by Paraguay's Damián Bobadilla in the seventh minute, putting the Americans ahead. Later, his perfectly weighted cut-back pass set up Folarin Balogun for his inaugural World Cup goal, extending the lead. Another strike from Balogun before the break solidified a commanding 3-0 advantage, marking what many considered the team's finest 45 minutes in recent history.
However, the jubilation was tempered when Pulisic did not emerge for the second half, being replaced by Sebastian Berhalter. The sudden substitution, without immediate explanation from the broadcast team, instantly triggered worries among fans and pundits alike. Given Pulisic's history with injuries, the decision to remove him from such a pivotal match raised significant concern, with coach Mauricio Pochettino's post-match comments reportedly addressing the situation only adding to the apprehension surrounding the 27-year-old's condition.