Pulisic likely out vs. Australia as US hold 58.9% win probability

United States men's national soccer team captain Christian Pulisic appears increasingly unlikely to feature against Australia on Sunday.

The US and Australia meet at 4 a.m. Korean Standard Time Sunday at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, in their Group D second-round match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Both sides enter the match level on three points after winning their opening games. The US routed Paraguay 4-1, while Australia beat Turkey 2-0.

Attention has centered on Pulisic's fitness. The captain was substituted at the start of the second half against Paraguay with a calf injury and has not rejoined full team training in a week. He has been seen doing individual work while wearing a compression sleeve on his left calf.

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino told reporters at a pre-match news conference that Pulisic "keeps getting better" and is "much improved compared to Friday," the day of the Paraguay game. Pochettino was cautious, however, adding that even if Pulisic cannot play Sunday, "he will be able to play in the next match."

Local media have leaned toward ruling him out. Betting analytics firm FanDuel projected before the match that Pulisic would not play and that Tim Weah would start on the left wing. CBS Sports offered the same projected lineup and named Brenden Aaronson, Gio Reyna and Alejandro Zendejas as alternatives.

Australia, by contrast, received a clean bill of health. Coach Tony Popovic said all his players are fit and available, expressing confidence in a full-strength squad.

The winner Sunday will clinch a round-of-32 berth and top spot in Group D. Data analysts give the US a 58.9 percent chance of victory, with a draw at 22.8 percent and an Australia win at 18.3 percent.