USMNT takes massive Christian Pulisic injury risk vs. Turkiye

The United States' matchup with Turkiye on Thursday night, as far as the 2026 FIFA World Cup standings and bracket are concerned, doesn't mean anything.

The USMNT's plans for Christian Pulisic, though, suggests that it does. It's hard to explain their injury approach in any other way.

The reality is that the U.S. has already clinched first place in their group. If they win by 10, lose by 10, draw 10-10 -- none of it will impact the spot on the bracket they go for the Round of 32.

With that in mind, then, what's the use in playing Pulisic?

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Yes, he can add a bit of match fitness. But the risk feels much greater than the reward.

As it stands, the U.S. is going to play Pulisic, and it just depends whether it's from the start or in the second half:

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It's a potential error the United States can't afford to make, but it looks like they're walking right into the mistake.

Sure, it's unlikely that the U.S. actually wins the World Cup, but that has to be the conversation point here. Pulisic has to be handled like he can be the key to winning the whole tournament.

And if that's the case, then playing him in a game with no meaning, coming off a tricky calf injury, is simply the wrong call.

The upside is limited.

The downside? A tournament over for Pulisic almost surely brings the United States up short of any massive goals.

Give him the time to rest, and maybe he can't go the distance against (likely) Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32. But even 45-to-60 minutes of Pulisic there should be enough to get by Bosnia -- and if it's not, this team wasn't winning the World Cup, anyway.

The U.S. needs Pulisic for the big games, not the one that doesn't matter one iota in the standings.

It just appears Mauricio Pochettino hasn't quite gotten that same memo.

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