Juventud Torremolinos · Attacker · #21 · 25 yrs
The United States got off to a tremendous start at the 2026 World Cup, with a dominant performance against Paraguay in a 4-1 win on Friday. The team was dynamic, creative, and delivered perhaps its best performance yet at a World Cup. However, there is concern about the status of star forward Christian Pulisic. Pulisic […]
Mauricio Pochettino has moved to allay concerns over Christian Pulisic’s fitness as the US prepare for their World Cup clash with Australia on Friday. Pulisic was brilliant in the opening half of the US’s 4-1 win over Paraguay last week. Pochettino gave a brief assessment when asked about the 27-year-old’s fitness.
The Cooligans recap a wild World Cup weekend as Australia pull off a stunning upset over Türkiye and potentially emerge as a dangerous opponent for the USMNT. Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros break down Brazil's disappointing performance against Morocco and debate whether one of the tournament favorites is actually a legitimate contender. They also react to Japan's impressive draw against the Netherlands, plus recap Haiti vs. Scotland and Germany vs. Curacao as the group stage begins to take shape.
On the podcast today: the USA … might actually be very good? They blew Paraguay away in their opening game in LA. Christian Pulisic, we owe you a huge apology. Elsewhere; Canada come back to draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina, an inspired triple substitution from Jesse Marsch turning things around, and if not for some brilliant Bosnian blocks they should have won it. Plus, a preview of the next batch of games including Haiti v Scotland, the developing domestic bliss between Max and Barry, and your questions answered. Continue reading...
The Cooligans react live to the USMNT's emphatic 4-1 World Cup win over Paraguay, breaking down how Mauricio Pochettino's side delivered one of the best performances in modern U.S. Soccer history. Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros discuss Folarin Balogun's two-goal masterclass, Gio Reyna's stunning strike, Christian Pulisic's dominant first half and Chris Richards' defensive brilliance before previewing the United States' next match against Australia. They also recap Canada's historic draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina and debate whether this USMNT squad can make a truly deep World Cup run.
Christian Pulisic sparked injury concerns for the USMNT after being substituted at halftime, but manager Mauricio Pochettino quickly cleared the air to calm fans. The USMNT did not disappoint in front of the home crowd at Los Angeles Stadium, delivering a statement 4-1 victory over Paraguay to kick off Group D of the 2026 World Cup. Yet, despite the commanding performance on the pitch, American fans were left holding their breath when captain Christian Pulisic was pulled from the match during the halftime. After a masterclass of a first half that saw the Stars and Stripes head into the locker room with a comfortable 3-0 lead, supporters grew increasingly worried when Pulisic failed to walk back out for the second half. However, manager Mauricio Pochettino quickly put any long-term injury fears to rest, confirming the decision was strictly precautionary. “Christian Pulisic received a kick in the calf. It tightened up afterward, so we did not want to take any risks,” Pochettino said after the game. With a short turnaround before the next group fixture, Pochettino opted to protect his star winger, sending in Sebastian Berhalter to fill the void for the remaining 45 minutes. 🚨🇺🇸 No injury or any serious issue for Christian Pulisic after excellent World Cup debut then subbed off at half time.Pulisic has been subbed off as precaution. pic.twitter.com/YXJ616aBNR— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 13, 2026 Plenty of rest for Pulisic Pochettino refused to take any gambles with his finest player, and the tactical gamble proved to be exactly the right call. Even without Pulisic driving the attack on the wing for the second half, the USMNT managed to find the back of the net once more through Giovanni Reyna, allowing the AC Milan forward to get some highly valuable rest. The USMNT will not take the pitch again for another six days, when they square off against Australia on June 19 at Seattle Stadium. A victory in the Pacific Northwest could officially punch the Americans’ ticket to the tournament’s brand-new Round of 32. Because Pochettino actively stepped in to prevent any further damage or a potential long-term setback during the physical opening match, the team’s superstar is expected to return to full training with zero physical restrictions. With nearly a week of recovery ahead of him, Pulisic will have plenty of time to rest up and hit the pitch in optimal condition for Matchday 2.
