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Socceroos World Cup bid bolstered by USA injury fears
SEN • June 19th, 2026 9:09 am
- USA v Socceroos starts at 5am AEST Saturday
A boost for Australia ahead of what has become one of the biggest grudge matches of this World Cup with news USA star Christian Pulisic is still not training fully with the team.
Less than 24 hours out from the second group game for both sides, the AC Milan winger was seen training away from his teammates with his calf heavily strapped.
Pulisic sustained the injury during a training session before the USA’s first group match against Paraguay which they won 4-1.
While he played in that match he was forced off at half-time and the status of his injury has been a closely guarded secret ever since.
“Fingers crossed he doesn’t make it,” SEN’s Simon Hill said of the star’s fitness.
“Australia can get through to the knockout if they beat the USA.”
As most US teammates have, Weston McKennie avoided giving a straight answer when quizzed on Pulisic’s status.
"I'm more just the energy guy, you know, either way, just trying to get good spirits and hopefully (Pulisic) can be there tomorrow," McKennie said.
"I know he really wants to be and he's doing everything that he can and the staff is doing everything that they can as well."
The Socceroos v USA clash has been the subject of significant trash talking in recent days with American pundit Mike Grella at the centre of it all.
“I’m not kidding though when I say this, what are they drinking over there because they have no shot of doing anything at the World Cup,” he said last week.
“They are the weakest team in the group. There’s no shot Australia can compete with the US.”
Despite Australia beating Turkiye 2-0 in their opening match, Grella has since doubled and tripled down on his criticism of Australia.
In his latest rant, Grella told Pat McAfee: “I was going to come on here and say some nice stuff about them, but now the fan base has gone a little too far.
“Really it’s been unbelievable. They wear a yellow shirt, I think that maybe they’re getting themselves confused with Brazil or another team that’s won something in the past.
“They’ve never won anything.
“On Friday I think they’re going to come into a team that has a little bit more quality and I think we’ll see a US win.”
Grella also called for Australia to build a statue of him given the motivation his criticism has given the Socceroos.
Whether Pulisic plays or not, the 5am Saturday (AEST) showdown is set to be a blockbuster.
Catch all the Socceroos action on SEN, Australia's official radio broadcaster of the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
