IRVINE, Calif. — The positive momentum for the United States men’s national soccer team continued on Monday, as Christian Pulisic returned to full training for the first time since June 11 after recovering from a left calf injury.
Pulisic sustained the injury just two days before the team’s opening match in the tournament, which saw them triumph 4-1 against Paraguay at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
He participated in the first half of the match but had to leave at halftime after aggravating his injury. Subsequently, he did not engage in full training with the team ahead of their 2-0 victory against Australia and remained on the bench during that game.
In contrast, the news is less optimistic for U.S. midfielder Cristian Roldan, who is nursing a muscle strain and is listed as day-to-day, according to a spokesperson from U.S. Soccer.
This injury comes at a crucial time for Roldan, especially with midfielder Tyler Adams already facing a yellow card, making it likely that Adams will miss the upcoming match against Türkiye to avoid earning a second yellow card that would result in a suspension for the round of 32.
Roldan was anticipated to step in as Adams’ replacement, but his availability is now uncertain.
Nonetheless, Pulisic’s return, along with the U.S. national team having already secured the top position in their group, has heightened the squad’s confidence. This positive atmosphere extends to every member of the roster.
“I think the vibes are high,” said Alex Zendejas, who has yet to make his appearance on the field but is expected to see action against Türkiye.
“The team is having fun; training is intense but in a good way. We’re competing consistently. I’ve felt this vibe since the beginning of the camp. It’s been about a month now, and that speaks volumes about our group.
“Even during the FIFA windows, which last around 10 days, the energy is high. You can only imagine how it is after being together for a month. It’s enjoyable to be around these guys; there are plenty of jokes and light-hearted moments, but when it’s time to train and play, we become serious and focused on winning, as evidenced by our performances in recent matches.”
This includes their enthusiasm during team-wide goal celebrations; following Alex Freeman‘s goal against Australia—validated by VAR—the team playfully struggled to catch up with him.
“It was a blast,” Zendejas noted. “We were already on the sideline after the goal was confirmed, ready to chase him down, but he’s just too quick.”
The team is also increasingly attuned to the extent of support they are receiving from fans across the country.
Forward Folarin Balogun mentioned that teammate Weston McKennie has been sharing videos of fan reactions from all over the U.S.
“Fans in various locations were watching the games on big screens and in bars,” Balogun told reporters. “Every time we score, they are celebrating in different places. It’s difficult for us to comprehend since we are in the midst of it, but once we’re out of this environment and back to our daily lives, I believe we will truly grasp the impact we’ve made, and it’s a beautiful thing.”