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By Megan Armstrong
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There was nationwide panic about Christian Pulisic's form in the lead-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup because he hadn't scored a goal, for AC Milan or the United States men's national team, in nearly six months.
The star 27-year-old attacker somewhat squashed the narrative when he scored against Senegal in a warmup friendly on May 31.
And he solidified it as hyperbolic nonsense in the first half of the USMNT's World Cup opener against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium on Friday night.
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Pulisic was active from the opening whistle. He didn't score, but who cares?
His creativity forced Paraguay's Damián Bobadilla to score an own goal and put the USMNT up 1-0 in the seventh minute. His perfect cut back and pass across the box set up Folarin Balogun for his first-ever World Cup goal to push the USMNT advantage to 2-0 in the 31st minute. Another Balogun banger made it a 3-0 lead at halftime, sealing the best 45 minutes in recent USMNT memory and maybe all of its history.
But then Pulisic was absent for the start of the second half, and all the fear came flooding back.
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Pulisic was subbed out and replaced by Sebastian Berhalter, and the FOX broadcast team did not have an immediate explanation for managing Mauricio Pochettino pulling Pulisic. His injury history exacerbated the concern. Pochettino saying he'd addressed it post-match hung like a cloud threatening to rain on USMNT elation for the whole second half.
But, just as with his scoring drought, the reaction appears to have been overblown.
"I just got a bit of a kick in the first half, so I'm really hoping that it's nothing," Pulisic said, per FOX Sports' Doug McIntyre. "Taking a little bit of precaution today, but I'm hoping I'll be fine the next few days."
Similarly, Pochettino disclosed Pulisic was kicked in his calf and "started to feel tight," adding, "We didn't want to take any risks." His substitution was described as "a precaution," per Tom Bogert.
Pulisic has a full week to rest and rev back up to peak form. The USMNT will continue Group D play against Australia at Lumen Field in Seattle on Friday, June 19. Hopefully, three points are all the antidote Pulisic needs.
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