Overview
- Pulisic was substituted during the U.S. 4-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16 after twisting his right ankle and knee, a play that ended his tournament and prompted immediate questions about the injury.
- His 2026 World Cup campaign was fragmented by a calf problem that limited him to roughly 225 minutes across matches and left him without a goal and only one assist.
- High-profile former U.S. players publicly rebuked Pulisic for his play and postgame remarks, with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard questioning his big‑game impact and Carli Lloyd criticizing his comment that he would 'get some rest.'
- Analysts and match data highlighted a poor showing against Belgium, including about 0.02 expected goals, high turnover totals in the first half, and low success on dribbles and ground duels.
- Near-term questions include the timetable for his recovery, unconfirmed reports of interest from New York City FC, and his expected share of World Cup prize money of roughly $246,153.85.