The United States were in need of a hero to mount an improbable comeback against Belgium in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. However, that couldn’t be Christian Pulisic, who had a rough game and was subbed off after limping for several minutes. In the end, the USA was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup with a 4-1 thrashing in Seattle.
Pulisic, who had been dealing with a calf injury throughout the 2026 World Cup, was considered healthy enough to start for the USMNT. However, in an awkward play, Belgium‘s Youri Tielemans won the ball from behind, causing Pulisic to twist his right ankle. He was seen limping for several minutes and appeared far from 100 percent.
After Matt Freese’s costly mistake gifted Belgium their third goal, Mauricio Pochettino decided Pulisic’s outing had come to an end. The USA substituted Pulisic for Sebastian Berhalter. Like it happened in the first game against Paraguay, Pulisic was unable to complete the full game.
In that sense, his 2026 World Cup ended much the way it started. In further evidence of the cruel irony that defined the USA’s 2026 World Cup, the Americans opened the tournament with a 4-1 victory and were knocked out with a 4-1 defeat.
Should a foul had been called on Pulisic’s injury play?
Depending on how serious Pulisic’s injury turns out to be, this could become a hot topic of conversation surrounding the USA’s Round of 16 elimination against Belgium. At first glance, it may seem like a clear case of dangerous play just outside the box.
However, Tielemans made full contact with the ball. Obviously, the fact that Pulisic was injured on the play is unfortunate, but just because a player is injured doesn’t mean the challenge should be penalized. In that sense, referee Adham Makhadmeh may have gotten the decision right.
Earlier in the game, he awarded a controversial free kick to the Americans, which Malik Tillman, the German-born midfielder, converted for his second set-piece goal of the 2026 World Cup.
Pulisic’s stats at 2026 World Cup
Coming into soccer’s biggest tournament with high expectations, it’s safe to say Pulisic failed to meet most of them. Largely due to an injury-riddled campaign, Pulisic’s 2026 World Cup was far from memorable. He did put together a great first-half performance in the 4-1 opening win over Paraguay, but that was about the extent of his highlights in the competition.
Pulisic recorded just one assist, and in his team’s biggest test against Belgium, he struggled throughout the afternoon in Seattle, even before sustaining a lower-body injury. Perhaps Pulisic was still dealing with the calf injury that hampered him during the group stage. Regardless, it wasn’t a good showing on the world’s biggest stage for the 27-year-old Captain America. Now, Pulisic and the USA will have to wait to fight for a spot in the next World Cup in 2030.
USA suffers summer heartbreak in Seattle
As for the United States, they exit the 2026 World Cup with mixed feelings. They put together a solid run, but recency bias won’t do them any favors. The USMNT played its worst game in a long time just when the entire nation was rallying behind the team. Pochettino took blame for the elimination, but the players are still responsible.
One could ask fans not to miss the forest for the trees, but that’s easier said than done after such a gut-wrenching elimination that casts a shadow over everything that came before it. Truth is, when the USMNT faced its first true challenge in the 2026 World Cup, the Stars and Stripes were exposed in every aspect.
