Christian Pulisic injury: USA star's status ahead of Netherlands match
AL WAKRAH, Qatar – United States men's national team star Christian Pulisic sustained an abdomen injury and was taken to a local hospital for scans after his thrilling goal lifted the USMNT to a 1-0 win over Iran in a win-or-go-home match on Tuesday night.
U.S. Soccer later announced Pulisic has been diagnosed with a pelvic contusion and his status is day-to-day. He was back at the team hotel before his teammates arrived from the stadium.
"He was taken to the hospital as a precaution," U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said afterward. "He was feeling some dizziness. It was a blow to the abdomen."
Pulisic scored the decisive goal that clinched a spot for the Americans in the round of 16. In the 38th minute, Weston McKennie chipped a ball into the penalty box that right back Sergiño Dest headed to Pulisic, who crashed the far post to score with the inside of his right foot.
USA's Christian Pulisic scores goal vs. Iran in 38'
Pulisic collided with Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand and lay on the ground for a few seconds rather than immediately celebrate his first-ever goal in a World Cup. His U.S. teammates quickly motioned for the team training staff to tend to him.
For a couple of minutes, Pulisic couldn't stand up straight and needed trainers to help him walk. Once on the sideline, he tried jogging, then clung to trainers again for support. Eventually, he grabbed a water bottle and ran to midfield to get back in the game to finish out the first half.
Pulisic was clearly in pain when he came back on the field, grimacing and had his hands on his knees, doubled over.
The winger did not come back on the field in the second half and was substituted for Brenden Aaronson. Berhalter said that Pulisic did not play in the second half "due to injury," but that the team video-chatted with him following the win.
As the second-place finisher in Group B, the U.S. will face the Netherlands on Saturday (10 a.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app) in the knockout round.
Check out the full schedule for the World Cup and how to watch each match live here.
Read more from the World Cup:
- Landon Donovan's four-step guide to becoming a World Cup hero
- World Cup Group Scenarios: What does each team need to advance?
- Clint Dempsey advised Christian Pulisic on how to get through tough times
- How to watch the 2022 World Cup on FOX: Times, channels, full match schedule
- Stu Holden's top 50 players at the World Cup
Top stories from FOX Sports:
- Could the entire NFC East make the playoffs?
- Did Bucs cost themselves a win by not using a timeout?
- Michigan, USC, TCU move up in Joel Klatt’s rankings
- Kodai Senga is unlike any other MLB free-agent pitcher
- College basketball power rankings: Undefeated Purdue is a problem
- Betting wrapup: Sportsbooks win big thanks to underdogs
Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of "Strong Like a Woman," published in spring 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow her on Twitter @LakenLitman.
