US confirm Pulisic leg fracture in defeat by Belgium
Retold by Oddsrama · 9 July 2026
The United States have officially confirmed that Christian Pulisic suffered a leg fracture during their humiliating 4-1 World Cup Round of 16 loss to Belgium. The 27-year-old AC Milan forward was withdrawn in the 59th minute after sustaining the injury early in the second half, apparently while attempting a shot and accidentally catching his leg against Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans. US Soccer's medical team diagnosed a microfracture and bone bruise affecting the tibia and fibula in his right leg.
The injury has triggered significant backlash in American football circles, with legendary figures questioning Pulisic's commitment. Carli Lloyd, the USMNT's all-time leading goalscorer, criticised his overall World Cup showing and pointed out the irony of his decision to skip the 2025 Gold Cup for rest ahead of a World Cup year. Landon Donovan, America's greatest World Cup performer, made his displeasure even clearer, suggesting he would have fought to stay on the pitch. The broader mood around the squad remained sour after their worst World Cup defeat in over three decades.
On the recovery front, while US Soccer has given no official timeline, reports suggest Pulisic will miss several weeks rather than months. AC Milan—his club side—will collaborate with the federation on his comeback plan ahead of their Serie A opener against Torino on August 23. For bettors tracking Pulisic's availability, this is a significant development; his absence from competitive football could affect both Milan's early-season odds and future USMNT lineups should he recover in time for qualifying fixtures.
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