Pulisic’s omission from today’s starting XI is purely tactical; he is not nursing an injury. Given Milan‘s squad depth, Amorim elected to hand the start to Omari Hutchinson on the wing instead.

Pulisic has yet to establish himself as a central figure under Amorim this season. His only appearance so far came as a substitute in last week’s 2-2 Serie A draw against Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico.

With TV details and kickoff times locked in for U.S. viewers, Milan and Benfica are primed to deliver a compelling spectacle on the pitch in Milan. The matchup carries immense European pedigree, bringing together two iconic clubs with rich continental histories seeking a strong start to their group-stage campaign.

Confirmed lineup for Milan

Without Pulisic in the starting side—but with veteran Luka Modric wearing the captain’s armband—Milan aim to kick off their quest for the Europa League title on the right foot. Here is how the Rossoneri will line up against Benfica:

• Goalkeeper: Mike Maignan
• Defenders: Filippo Terracciano, Koni De Winter, Strahinja Pavlovic
• Midfielders: Samuel Chukwueze, Yunus Musah, Ardon Jashari, Davide Bartesaghi
• Attacking Midfielders: Omari Hutchinson, Alphadjo Cisse
• Forward: Goncalo Ramos

Depending on how the match unfolds, Pulisic could prove to be a crucial option off the bench as Milan pursue their first three points of the group stage. The American winger already has one assist and one yellow card to his name in Serie A play this season.

The manager recently told the press that Pulisic will come on at some point during the match, although he would prefer not to have him play the full 90 minutes. The reason? He wants the forward to be at 100% both physically and on the pitch, as he considers him a very important player for the team.

“He’ll play a few minutes [vs Lazio]. I like him a lot as a player. He’s angry because he has zero minutes so far, and I like that quality in my players. Don’t forget that he had an injury in the summer and then in the first training session he took a knock and had to stop.

“I won’t take out someone who’s doing well just to put in a ‘name’: that’s my way of managing the group and I’ll die by those principles. Pulisic is very important to me,” Amorim said via Milan News‘ Antonio Vitiello.

Milan’s confirmed XI vs Lazio

Milan will be looking to secure three valuable points at the Stadio Olimpico, despite facing a historic rival in Lazio. Ruben Amorim will field this starting XI as he looks to achieve that goal.

Mike Maignan; Mario Gila, Koni de Winter, Strahinja Pavlovic; Samuel Chukwueze, Luka Modric, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Pervis Estupinan; Adrien Rabiot, Alphadjo Cisse; Goncalo Ramos.

What’s next for Milan?

The start of the season has been promising for Milan, and the Rossoneri aim to be contenders in every competition. Here are the upcoming fixtures they have ahead of them beyond Lazio:

• vs Benfica, UEFA Europa League – Matchday 1 (September 16)
• vs Lecce, Serie A – Matchday 5 (September 20)
• at Sassuolo, Serie A – Matchday 6 (October 11)
• at RB Salzburg, UEFA Europa League – Matchday 2 (October 15)
• vs Atalanta, Serie A – Matchday 7 (October 15)

Pulisic suffered a bone bruise and a microfracture in his lower leg during the United States’ World Cup match vs. Belgium on July 6. Since then, he hasn’t played a single minute of soccer action.

He returned to full group training in mid-August, but he has been rushing back into shape. However, given how important a game against Juventus is, AC Milan coach Ruben Amorim could clearly see him as an enticing substitute. For Juventus, Weston McKennie isn’t playing against AC Milan. Hence, American soccer players are not in display.

Pulisic’s big drought is a story on its own

Since arriving at AC Milan, Pulisic has made a name for himself by scoring plenty and also when the team needs him the most. However, all forwards face a drought every once in a while and that’s what has happened to Pulisic.

The last goal Pulisic scored for ‘Il diavolo‘ was on December 28, 2025 against Hellas Verona. As of now, his club drought spans 252 days. He didn’t score a single goal in the entire second half of the 2025–26 Serie A campaign.

Both Juventus and AC Milan are in good form

Juventus and AC Milan started the 2026-27 Serie A with good form. Both teams have won their respective two matches, albeit leaving very different impressions on how they perform.

Juventus barely beat Frosinone and then did enough to get Parma as well. Having said that, the team is not at its full potential. Ruben Amorim started his Milan era beating Torino away from home and then comfortably beating Venezia at San Siro. This is a game where the winner will leave fully motivated for what’s to come.

Pulisic was forced off in the 59th minute after colliding with a Belgian defender while attempting to shoot on goal. The AC Milan star immediately showed signs of discomfort and was unable to continue.

According to the USMNT, subsequent medical examinations revealed that the injury is less severe than initially feared, offering encouraging news for both the player and his club ahead of the 2026-27 season.

What happened to Christian Pulisic in 2026 World Cup?

Christian Pulisic suffered a bone bruise and a microfracture during the USA loss against Belgium in Seattle. This is the full report from the USMNT after medical examinations.

“Christian Pulisic has been diagnosed with a microfracture and bone bruise of the tibia/fibula in his right leg suffered during the match against Belgium. U.S. Soccer and AC Milan will be collaborating on his recovery plan.”

Pulisic’s injury occurred during a promising attacking move for the USMNT. As he prepared to strike the ball toward goal, his foot made contact with the foot of a Belgian opponent. The impact immediately affected his ability to continue, and he was eventually substituted in the 59th minute.

How serious is Christian Pulisic’s injury?

According to a report from The Athletic, this is Pulisic’s projected recovery timeline: “The estimated timeframe for Pulisic’s recovery puts him on track to return sometime in August, meaning he could be back in training ahead of the new Serie A season.”

The diagnosis comes as reassuring news for Pulisic and AC Milan, as there had been concerns that the injury could be much more serious and potentially threaten the beginning of his 2026-27 club season.

Among many things, Pulisic made a promise, calling this lesson only the beginning for the sport of soccer in the United States. Although Pulisic downplayed the injury he suffered against Belgium, he did admit disappointment with how the 2026 World Cup ended.

That same disappointment was echoed by U.S. icon Landon Donovan regarding Pulisic’s performance. Still, after taking a few days to process and digest a packed summer, Pulisic took to social media with a message for the fans and the rest of the world.

“Tough to find the words. I want to start by saying thank you to everyone who believe. The support carried us all the way through. It simply wasn’t good enough from us in the end and I wanted to deliver so much more,” Pulisic’s message on his Instagram read. “I still feel blessed to be a part of this team. The memories this summer will last a lifetime. It’s just the start for us and for this sport in America.”

Pulisic’s numbers at 2026 World Cup

Pulisic appeared in four games at the 2026 World Cup. He didn’t complete any of them. Although it must be noted he played 87 minutes in the Round of 32 against Bosnia and Herzegovina, so he virtually played the full 90 minutes. In the remaining three, however, he was either subbed off with an injury (against Paraguay and Belgium) or subbed in (against Turkiye). Through those four appearances, Pulisic recorded only one assist.

In soccer, however, great performances may be lost in the stat sheet. In Pulisic’s case, he did put together a great first half against Paraguay in the tournament opener. However, he was subbed off at halftime with a lower-body setback, and that was essentially all she wrote for his campaign.

Pulisic didn’t come close to matching that level for the rest of the 2026 World Cup, and it was extremely painful as a nation rallied behind the USMNT while its biggest star looked a gear off.

Focus shifts onto next World Cup

There’s nothing to be done now, and the USMNT must shift its focus to the CONCACAF Gold Cup and World Cup qualifiers, as the next World Cup won’t be until 2030, and the USA isn’t guaranteed to make it.

Pulisic will be 31 at the 2030 World Cup. There’s a scenario in which it could be his last or second to last. Either way, his opportunities are running short, and he squandered his best yet.

As he mentioned that soccer is only writing its first chapters in the USA, he will surely want to have a bigger say in them going forward. Or maybe he will only plant the seed of a tree he won’t see blossom—at least not as a USMNT player.

It’s too late for the USA now. Although the USMNT will receive prize money for reaching the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup, it will be little consolation for the broken hearts across the country. Among those left disappointed and hoping for better from Pulisic and the Stars and Stripes was legendary forward Landon Donovan.

“In the end, [Pulisic] is your best player, he is your star, and it just didn’t happen for him. It’s just disappointing. I was waiting for a moment from him, something special, something spectacular, and it just didn’t happen,” Donovan said in a recent episode of his podcast, Unfiltered Soccer, with Tim Howard.

Injuries doomed Pulisic’s World Cup

After a great first half against Paraguay in the tournament opener, Pulisic was subbed off at halftime with a lower-body injury. He went on to miss the game against Australia before appearing in the second half of the USMNT’s loss to Turkiye to close out Group D.

Pulisic played against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32, but his performance flew under the radar. Instead, striker Folarin Balogun and German-born midfielder Malik Tillman stole the spotlight and led the Stars and Stripes to victory. One of the players born outside the United States led the USMNT to the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup.

However, that would be as far as the United States would go, despite playing at home and having FIFA cancel Balogun’s red-card suspension, amid an admission from FIFA president Gianni Infantino that U.S. President Donald Trump called about the suspension. Pulisic was subbed off during the Round of 16 game against Belgium, in which the Stars and Stripes suffered their worst loss in a long time, sounding the death knell for their hopes and dreams at the 2026 World Cup.

What’s next?

From now on, the USMNT will have to watch as the tournament unfolds on home soil, while Pulisic will bear the weight of harsh criticism from sea to shining sea. With the United States eliminated, they will have to wait for the next World Cup, which will be in 2030. For the time being, there’s much work to be done.

“Pulisic will be important for us, I believe in him,” the new manager said via Fabrizio Romano on X. Which team was Captain America linked with? Rumors suggested that MLS side New York City had set their sights on him.

Pulisic has been a key figure for the Rossoneri in recent years, and now, under this new management, he will once again lead the attack. Amorim, who arrives for this new challenge in Serie A, also wants to retain Luka Modric: “I want Modrić to stay, I spoke to Luka and if needed… I will go get him in person! I want Modrić with us this season.”

Both players had active roles in the World Cup, with Team USA being eliminated in the Round of 16, while The Vatreni were knocked out in the Round of 32. Will Amorim ultimately be able to keep them together at AC Milan for a little longer?

What is Pulisic’s injury status?

The heavy defeat suffered by the USMNT against Belgium, a 4-1 loss, not only resulted in their elimination but also saw Christian Pulisic leave the field with an injury. “I just totally twisted my ankle and my knee in one play,” he revealed.

At the time, manager Mauricio Pochettino decided to sub the player off to avoid worsening the situation. Now, with more time to rest and a good recovery, everything indicates that Pulisic will be available for his club soon.

Pulisic’s numbers at AC Milan

Christian Pulisic officially arrived at AC Milan on July 13, 2023, transferring from Chelsea. Since making his debut with the Rossoneri, the American winger has become a key figure in the squad, completing 100 appearances and scoring 31 goals in Serie A play.

“I just totally twisted my ankle and my knee in one play,” Pulisic explained. “I mean, whatever. I have time to rest. It’s just an unfortunate way to finish.” The raw emotion of his comments mirrored the widespread heartbreak surrounding the Americans’ early exit, a reality that clearly set in for the captain after he was forced to the sidelines midway through the second half.

“I felt really good this summer with the guys and I thought my level was high. Yeah, it’s disappointing. I didn’t quite have the moments I was hoping to try to help us really push and get over this next step of beating a really good team. I’m disappointed with myself, of course, but I’m going to try to stay positive. I did a lot of good things and the team did as well,” Pulisic remarked, reflecting on the program’s missed opportunity to break through on the world stage.

The blowout exit was a jarring conclusion for the USMNT that had shown real promise during the group stage. Ultimately, Belgium’s ruthless, clinical finishing exposed a disorganized American side, which failed to capitalize on the massive pre-match boost of having Folarin Balogun’s suspension lifted by FIFA just in time for the knockout clash.

Pulisic’s World Cup campaign beset by injuries

Pulisic’s 2026 World Cup campaign with the USMNT was heavily compromised by unfortunate physical setbacks. The AC Milan forward was carefully managed through a calf injury early on, featuring as a halftime substitute in the opening 4–1 win against Paraguay—where he provided an assist—before starting against Türkiye and Bosnia and Herzegovina as the USMNT navigated its way to the knockout stages.

His tournament came to a frustrating end during the Round of 16 elimination match against Belgium in Seattle. Pulisic suffered a combined right ankle and knee sprain during a heavy 52nd-minute tackle and was forced off the pitch in the 59th minute, shortly before Belgium took total control to secure their comfortable 4–1 victory.

Ultimately, injuries prevented the US talisman from finding his peak form or anchoring the frontline consistently. He concluded the home tournament with four total appearances, 225 minutes on the pitch, zero goals, and one assist.

According to journalist Tom Bogert, Mauricio Pochettino says he thinks Christian Pulisic twisted his ankle, but he hopes it is not serious and he will be able to reintegrate with AC Milan ahead of the 2026-27 season.

This leaves both USA and AC Milan fans somewhat relieved that they will count on the star, who will arrive downcast but hungry for glory and fighting to reach the next World Cup with the USMNT.

What is next for USA and Christian Pulisic?

On one hand, they are left to be spectators and continue enjoying the World Cup they are hosting, while Belgium and Spain already have a confirmed date and venue for their matchup. On the side of the USMNT, the future is uncertain, especially the continuity of Pochettino, who had them excited at the beginning.

Mauricio Pochettino‘s future is unsettled. Multiple reports before the tournament said U.S. Soccer had offered Pochettino a contract extension through 2030, but both sides opted to wait until the run ended to decide.

Whoever takes the job will not be busy right away. The U.S. currently has no matches announced before the September FIFA window. That gives the federation time to reset and to see which veterans move on. Tim Ream is 38 and near the end. Christian Pulisic, 27, along with younger players Malik Tillman, Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi and Tim Weah, is a group that can carry it forward.

Hosting this World Cup came with an automatic bye. For 2030 in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, the Americans will have to qualify through CONCACAF, something they have not had to grind through since 2022. The 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles offer one more home stage before they have to focus on the next World Cup on the road.

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.

Pulisic defended FIFA’s decision according to Steven Goff: “It was extremely harsh. If you want to call it justice, call it whatever. We were prepared to play without him. We’ve been granted this opportunity to have him. I’m mostly just happy for him, seeing that smile on his face. He deserves to be playing.”

FIFA announced Sunday, July 5, that Balogun will be reinstated for the United States’ game against Belgium despite being given a red card in the team’s Round of 32 game against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Now, the USA will have that duo back together, generating plenty of hope as Pulisic and Balogun look to secure a spot in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Belgium manager Rudi Garcia blasted FIFA for lifting Balogun’s suspension.

Why was Folarin Balogun facing suspension?

Balogun was given a red card in the United States‘ Round of 32 matchup against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which the U.S. won 2-0. The red card came after Balogun was fighting for the ball against Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic early in the second half of the game. Balogun ended up stepping on Muharemovic’s ankle, which wounded Muharemovic and prompted the red card.

A red card is normally granted only when something is deemed ‘serious foul play.’ Many fans and experts who watched the play believe the red card was unjustified, requesting fans to appeal for it to be overturned. Even U.S. President Donald Trump reacted, admitting that he called FIFA president Gianni Infantino about Balogun’s suspension.

USA coach Mauricio Pochettino then celebrated FIFA’s decision, even though the governing body claimed making an independent decision. Infantino admitted Trump called, but denied that it had any influence in overturning Balogun’s ban.

FIFA’s statement

FIFA mentioned Article 27 of their disciplinary code in their statement, writing: “In line with Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year.“

However, Balogun is not totally out of the woods. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee continued, “If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”

Belgium issued two statements on the matter, claiming to be ‘deeply concerned’ with FIFA’s behavior. They weren’t alone in the reaction though, as UEFA defended Belgium by calling out FIFA.