Pochettino insists ‘the feelings are good’ after leaving Pulisic out of USA vs. Australia | OneFootball

Mauricio Pochettino has urged for calm following the news that Christian Pulisic will not be able to feature in his nation’s upcoming World Cup group stage match against Australia and insists: ‘He was training in the morning and the feelings are good’.

Pochettino reacts after leaving Pulisic out of USA vs. Australia squad

Pulisic has been left out of USA’s matchday squad altogether ahead of their second group stage match at the 2026 World Cup, kicking off against Australia at 20.00 BST.

The Milan attacker withdrew at half-time of the USA’s opening match of the 2026 World Cup: An eventual 4-1 win over Paraguay. The player and coach insisted that this was solely on precautionary grounds following a knock in training, but it appears that the issue was severe enough to keep Pulisic out of the squad for Friday evening’s match against Australia.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 12: Christian Pulisic #10 of the United States looks on as he walks off at the end of the first half during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Speaking to Fox Sports ahead of kick-off, USMNT head coach Pochettino provided a brief update on the condition of the injured Milan star.

“Today he was training in the morning and the feelings are good,” Pochettino disclosed. “We hope that he can be ready as soon as possible to be selected again and be part of the team.”

There is still some Serie A representation in the USA line-up on Friday evening as Juventus’s Weston McKennie keeps his place in the line-up. Former Milan right-back Sergino Dest is also in the USMNT side and former Juventus forward Timothy Weah is named among the substitutes.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 12: Christian Pulisic #10 and Weston McKennie #8 of the United States celebrate their side’s first goal, an own goal by Damian Bobadilla #16 of Paraguay (not pictured), during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Parma’s Alessandro Circati is starting for Australia, but former Italy youth international Cristian Volpato (Sassuolo) starts on the bench.

Click here to see the USA vs. Australia line-ups in full.