Is Christian Pulisic playing for the USMNT today? World Cup injury status and more

Friday's World Cup opener against Paraguay was the perfect night for the United States ... well almost. Mauricio Pochettino's team cruised to a 4-1 victory, with the U.S. scoring four in a World Cup match for the very first time and winning by a three-goal margin for the first time since 1930. However, there was certainly one negative that all those inside SoFi Stadium were concerned about come full time: Christian Pulisic was replaced at the half due to a calf injury after putting in possibly the most scintillating 45-minute display of his entire USMNT career.

So, will he be fit to feature when the United States take on Australia in Seattle on Friday afternoon? With kickoff approaching, we finally have clarity on whether the USMNT will have their best player in the starting XI.

Christian Pulisic injury update: USMNT star out for Group D match vs. Australia

It felt like things were trending this way all week, and sure enough it's come to pass: Manager Mauricio Pochettino told reporters on Friday afternoon that Pulisic will not be available to play against Australia.

This should hardly be a surprise based on how Pulisic was progressing after being removed during the Paraguay match last week. Following Friday night's victory in Los Angeles, Pulisic told media in the mixed zone that his half time withdrawal was only precautionary, alleviating fears that he had suffered a serious injury. He also added this:

"I’m hoping I’ll be fine the next few days. Just the back of my leg, sort of my calf area. I’m staying positive. I don’t think it’s anything."

Christian Pulisic on his injury

But it soon became clear that the issue was more concerning than the winger first let on. According to U.S. Soccer, Pulisic practiced this week under a “modified training session with gym and individual field work" due to a left calf issue.

Given how important Pulisic is to the USMNT's hopes at this tournament — and the position the U.S. sits in atop Group D — Pochettino was never going to make him available if he were anything less than 100 percent. The Ameriacns are in a great position to reach the knockout stages already, while their third opponents Türkiye looked chaotic in their own tournament bow. There's still more than enough talent on this team, particularly in attack, to win each of their final two group-stage matches.

It's the knockout stage, when competition really ramps up, that Pulisic's individual quality and gravity will become truly crucial. Getting him right for the round of 32 and beyond is the only goal here; if there is even the slightest risk of Pulisic exacerbating this calf issue, it's not the worst idea from to protect him and leave him in reserve against the Socceroos.

Who will replace Christian Pulisic in the USMNT starting XI vs. Australia?

With Pulisic out of the lineup, Pochettino has tapped Ricardo Pepi for his first World Cup start.

Pepi is by no means Pulisic's equal, but it's a sign of the growing American depth that they can call on the 23-year-old here: After coming up through MLS, Pepi has starred over the past few years for PSV Eindhoven, scoring 34 goals in 71 appearances for one of the best clubs in the Netherlands. He's a dynamic player with real pace and skill, capable of staying on the flank or making runs inside.

Just where he'll play is an open question at the moment, as he doesn't typically operate in Pulisic's usual spot on the left wing. But Pepi is more talented than the more natural fits for that spot like Timothy Weah, Brenden Aaronson or Haji Wright, so there's also a chance that Pochettino will shift to a different formation that would allow Pepi to play up top in a more traditional striker's role alongside Folarin Balogun.

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