Christian Pulisic replacement: Three lineup options if USMNT star doesn't play vs. Australia due to injury

Christian Pulisic replacement: Three lineup options if USMNT star doesn’t play vs. Australia due to injury originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The United States started their 2026 World Cup slate in blistering fashion, blitzing Paraguay 4-1 in their opening match of Group D play.

However, the one negative from that match was the mysterious withdrawal of Christian Pulisic at halftime, as the USMNT superstar had been their best player through the first 45 minutes.

With a spot in the knockout stage now there for the taking, the United States will now meet Australia, winners of their opening match against Turkey, and the absence of their star left winger is a real possibility.

The Sporting News discusses what could be the Plan B if Pulisic is unable to pass fit for action in the USA’s next World Cup match.

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Christian Pulisic injury update

Christian Pulisic exited the USMNT’s 4-1 win at halftime, departing after taking “a bit of a kick” he told Fox Sports postgame. While Mauricio Pochettino at the time said it was a “precaution,” he also noted that Pulisic “could not walk” after his calf seized up.

As of June 18, it’s unclear if Pulisic will take part in the USMNT’s match against Australia. The American forward has yet to take part in full team training this week, missing each of the past three sessions with an apparent calf injury.

Pulisic has taken to the pitch for individual training, spurning the wider team sessions for one-on-one work. Interestingly, Pulisic’s left leg was cloaked in a sleeve when he was seen practicing. He did not return to full team training at any point before the match, still remaining in individual training for the team’s final training session the day before the match, often a sign that he may not be fully fit for the game.

In his pre-match press conference, Pochettino would not give a definitive update on Pulisic’s status, saying only that the medical staff would meet that evening to make a determination on his status.

Mauricio Pochettino says they will meet with the medical staff today and make a call on Christian Pulisic’s status tomorrow

“He’s doing a massive effort to get ready” but will likely be available for Turkiye game if he can’t play against Australia#USMNTpic.twitter.com/1sUJIpm9GA

— Pardeep Cattry (@pcattry) June 18, 2026

MORE:Previewing Australia, the USMNT’s next opponent at the World Cup

Who could replace Christian Pulisic for the USMNT vs. Australia?

There are three viable options to replace Christian Pulisic should he not be fit to start against Australia.

Mauricio Pochettino won’t change his formation or approach to the game, but he could move personnel around the cover the absence.

Option 1: Haji Wright — Like-for-like

USA (4-4-2, right to left): 24. Freese (GK) — 16. Freeman, 3. Richards, 13. Ream, 5. A. Robinson — 4. Adams, 17. Tillman — 2. Dest, 8. McKennie, 19. Wright — 20. Balogun.

The simplest change is the most like-for-like, where Mauricio Pochettino could keep everyone in their positions and bring Haji Wright in to play on the left wing.

Many USMNT fans are familiar with Wright’s talent as a central striker — and Australia are too, as the Coventry City star bagged a brace as the No. 9 the last time these teams squared off — but fans may be surprised by the fact that Wright most regularly plays out wide left for his club, a position he’s thrived in in the Championship in helping Coventry earn promotion to the top flight.

This would be an exciting option for Pochettino to take if Pulisic is out or only fit for a place on the bench.

Option 2: Tim Weah — Flip sides

USA (4-4-2, right to left): 24. Freese (GK) — 16. Freeman, 3. Richards, 13. Ream, 5. A. Robinson — 4. Adams, 17. Tillman — 2. Dest, 8. McKennie, 21. Weah — 20. Balogun.

Similar to bringing on Haji Wright to replace Christian Pulisic would be slotting Tim Weah into that position.

Weah is most commonly a right-sided player, but he does have some experience playing on the left for both club and country. He saw some action early in the season on the left with his French club Marseille, and did so for the USMNT against South Korea in a 2-0 defeat last September.

The son of a former Ballon d’Or winner, Weah is a spark plug on the field for the U.S., but it’s hard to argue he’s the right addition in a non-natural position.

Option 3: Sebastian Berhalter — The Paraguay option

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p style=”margin-left:40px”>USA (4-4-2, right to left): 24. Freese (GK) — 16. Freeman, 3. Richards, 13. Ream, 5. A. Robinson — 4. Adams, 14. Berhalter — 2. Dest, 8. McKennie, 17. Tillman — 20. Balogun.

The most likely option is probably the one which Mauricio Pochettino made at halftime of the opener against Paraguay when Christian Pulisic first came off injured.

At that time, Pochettino brought Sebastian Berhalter into midfield and moved Malik Tillman out wide on the left.

It was a move that made the U.S. noticeably worse, but it’s hard to tell if that’s simply because Pulisic was no longer on the field, or because the replacement was the wrong one. Tillman had been playing quite well in a deeper role next to Tyler Adams while Weston McKennie had freedom to roam in a No. 10 role, so the dismantling of that dynamic was a net negative in the second half.

MORE:The latest news on Christian Pulisic’s injury ahead of the USMNT match vs. Australia