Why Did Pochettino Pull Pulisic at Halftime? The Surprising Reason Revealed

The USMNT did not disappoint in front of the home crowd at Los Angeles Stadium, delivering a statement 4-1 victory over Paraguay to kick off Group D of the 2026 World Cup. Yet, despite the commanding performance on the pitch, American fans were left holding their breath when captain Christian Pulisic was pulled from the match during the halftime.

After a masterclass of a first half that saw the Stars and Stripes head into the locker room with a comfortable 3-0 lead, supporters grew increasingly worried when Pulisic failed to walk back out for the second half.

However, manager Mauricio Pochettino quickly put any long-term injury fears to rest, confirming the decision was strictly precautionary. “Christian Pulisic received a kick in the calf. It tightened up afterward, so we did not want to take any risks,” Pochettino said after the game

With a short turnaround before the next group fixture, Pochettino opted to protect his star winger, sending in Sebastian Berhalter to fill the void for the remaining 45 minutes.