Waterhouse · Premier League · Defender · #23 · Jamaica · 34 yrs
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.
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.
It was a perfect outing for the USMNT as they beat Paraguay 4-1 in their 2026 World Cup debut. With the start of the 2026 World Cup last Thursday, excitement is growing in every country, and it was time for the USMNT to make their debut against Paraguay in the opening match of Group D, which went perfectly as they opened with a 4-1 victory. In the first half, the match was already over. It started with a lucky goal as Damián Bobadilla scored an own goal after a good move by Christian Pulisic on the left, and the USMNT solidified their dominance with two more goals from Folarin Balogun. Pulisic was replaced at halftime after feeling some discomfort, but Mauricio Pochettino said it was just a precaution. There was not much left to show from the USMNT, who logically lowered their intensity after a perfect first half but were never in trouble. They were very solid across every line, and even Paraguay’s goal by Maurício did not rattle them. The final action of the match was a beautiful finish from Giovanni Reyna, following about a minute of ball control in which every player touched the ball.
The USMNT officially opened its account at the 2026 World Cup courtesy of an early own goal by Paraguay’s Damián Bobadilla. The USMNT kicked off its highly anticipated 2026 World Cup campaign in the best possible way at Los Angeles Stadium, finding the back of the net just seven minutes into the opening match against Paraguay. The breakthrough came during a frantic and energetic opening sequence. While Paraguay initially looked to dictate the tempo with an aggressive press, Mauricio Pochettino’s backline absorbed the early pressure with composure before executing a fluid counter-attack. Following a brilliant string of one-touch passes down the flank, Christian Pulisic sliced inside and drove the ball toward the center of the box. Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie collected the pass neatly, immediately whipping a low cross into the six-yard box looking to connect with an incoming forward. Faced with intense pressure, Paraguayan midfielder Damián Bobadilla intercepted the cross at full speed, inadvertently bundling the ball directly into the back of his own net. The costly own goal broke the deadlock and sent the home crowd in Los Angeles into absolute raptures, giving the United States an early 1-0 advantage in Group D. OWN GOAL. 1-0 USA! 🇺🇸THE @USMNT SCORES FIRST AND LOS ANGELES IS ABSOLUTELY ELECTRIC! pic.twitter.com/tEbJU8E9PX— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 13, 2026 USMNT aims to surpass 2002 World Cup run While the USMNT’s best historical finish at a World Cup came during the inaugural tournament in 1930, where they finished third, their most iconic modern campaign was the legendary run to the quarterfinals at Korea-Japan 2002. In that edition, the USMNT shocked the soccer world by surviving a daunting group that included co-hosts South Korea, Poland, and a heavily favored Portugal side, whom the Americans upset in an epic 3-2 thriller on matchday one. After advancing as the group runners-up and sent the star-studded Portuguese home early, Bruce Arena’s squad set up a high-stakes Round of 16 clash against their longtime regional rivals, Mexico. It was on that stage that rising phenom Landon Donovan cemented his legacy, scoring the dagger to secure a historic 2-0 victory over El Tri and punch the U.S. ticket to the quarterfinals. In the next round, despite outplaying powerhouse Germany for large stretches of the match, the Americans fell just short, dropping a heartbreaking 1-0 decision on a Michael Ballack header to cap off an unforgettable tournament run.
The confirmed lineups for the 2026 World Cup match USMNT vs Paraguay, with Christian Pulisic in the lineup. With the kickoff of the 2026 World Cup already behind some teams, the time has come for the USMNT to make their debut in the competition against Paraguay in Group D, with Christian Pulisic ready to start. This group may easily be the most balanced in the entire tournament, with no team being a clear favorite over any other. For the USMNT, the good feeling they left in the match against Germany despite the 2-1 loss could give them confidence. They were also able to beat Paraguay in a friendly last November. It should be a historic day for Paraguay too, as they are coming back to the highest level, where they have not been since 2010. Their main concern was not a small one, but Julio Enciso was confirmed after the injury he suffered in his team’s farewell friendly. The lineups Mauricio Pochettino opted for this lineup for the USMNT: Matt Freese; Alex Freeman, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson; Tyler Adams, Malik Tillman; Sergino Dest, Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic; Folarin Balogun. Enciso could be on the bench (Christian Alvarenga /Getty Images) Gustavo Alfaro picked this lineup for Paraguay: Orlando Gill (GK); Juan Cáceres, Omar Alderete, Gustavo Gómez (c), Júnior Alonso; Diego Gómez, Andrés Cubas, Damián Bobadilla, Miguel Almirón; Antonio Sanabria, Julio Enciso. Their group The USMNT and Paraguay were placed in Group D with Australia and Turkey, who began the competition on June 13.
