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Christian Pulisic to miss US World Cup match against Australia because of calf injury
By ANDREW DESTIN, Associated Press at ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports
· June 19, 2026
· 1 min read
SEATTLE (AP) — U.S. star Christian Pulisic will miss Friday's World Cup match against Australia because of a calf injury and was replaced in the starting lineup by Ricardo Pepi. United States coach Mauricio Pochettino made the announcement during an interview with Fox about 90 minutes before the ...
Key takeaway United States coach Mauricio Pochettino made the announcement during an interview with Fox about 90 minutes before the kickoff at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Why this matters in The McAllen
The news of Christian Pulisic's calf injury will likely resonate with soccer fans in the Rio Grande Valley, where the sport has a strong following. Many residents in McAllen and surrounding areas closely follow the US national team, and Pulisic's absence from the lineup may be felt by local fans who were looking forward to watching him play. The Valley's own soccer enthusiasts, from youth leagues to adult recreational teams, often draw inspiration from professional players like Pulisic, and his injury serves as a reminder of the risks and challenges that come with competing at the highest level. As the US team moves forward without Pulisic, fans in McAllen will be watching to see how his replacement, Ricardo Pepi, performs against Australia, and how the team's strategy may change in response to the injury.
About this story
Original reporting by ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports . The McAllen surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 19, 2026 ·
Source: ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? SEATTLE (AP) — U.S. star Christian Pulisic will miss Friday's World Cup match against Australia because of a calf injury and was replaced in the starting lineup by Ricardo Pepi. United States coach Mauricio Pochettino made the announcement during an interview with Fox about 90 minutes before the ...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 19, 2026 by ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports and curated for The McAllen readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by ANDREW DESTIN, Associated Press at ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports. To learn more about how The McAllen selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The McAllen, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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