No Pulisic, no problem: U.S. tops Australia 2-0 in World Cup despite missing its star

In a crucial FIFA World Cup 2026 match, the U.S. men’s national soccer team defeated Australia 2-0 in Seattle, despite the absence of star winger Christian Pulisic due to a calf injury. The U.S. took an early lead when Australian defender Cameron Burgess scored an own goal following a pass from American striker Folarin Balogun. Alex Freeman secured the win with a header just before halftime. The match was intense, with seven yellow cards issued. U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino praised his team’s attitude, which secured their advancement to the knockout stage and a strong position in Group D. Pulisic’s absence allowed Ricardo Pepi to start, while Freeman’s goal marked a significant milestone in his career. QUESTION: How might the absence of a key player like Christian Pulisic impact a team’s performance and strategy in a high-stakes tournament?