Christian Pulisic Confirmed to Have Broken Leg in Match Against Belgium

June 26, Kathmandu – The United States suffered another major blow following their 4–1 defeat to Belgium in the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The team’s star forward, Christian Pulisic, has been confirmed to have a fractured right leg. The U.S. Soccer Federation reported that Pulisic sustained a microfracture to the tibia and fibula bones in his right leg, along with a serious bone bruise.

The 27-year-old Pulisic was forced to leave the field in the 59th minute of the match held in Seattle against Belgium. He was injured early in the second half after delivering a heavy challenge with the ball to Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans’ leg.

In an official statement shared via social media, the U.S. Soccer Federation announced that Pulisic’s treatment and rehabilitation plan will be coordinated with his club, AC Milan. After the U.S. team’s disappointing exit from the World Cup, American media and former players have criticized Pulisic’s performance. Among the top American scorers, Carli Lloyd expressed that Pulisic did not meet expectations, stating, “Not just in this match, but throughout the entire World Cup, Pulisic failed to deliver as expected. Except for a few moments, he could not lead the team.”

Addressing Pulisic’s preparation for the World Cup after resting post the 2025 Gold Cup, Lloyd wrote on social media platform X, “Rest is meant for after your playing career ends.” Another American soccer legend, Landon Donovan, also expressed dissatisfaction with the decision to substitute Pulisic, saying, “If I were there, I wouldn’t have let the medical staff remove him from the field.” The U.S. Soccer Federation has not disclosed how long Pulisic will be sidelined. However, according to The Athletic, he is expected to rest for several weeks, and no prolonged absence from the field is anticipated.