Fakel Overview

Mauricio Pochettino says Christian Pulisic's availability for the U.S. Men's National Team's second World Cup match will go right down to the wire as the star winger deals with an injury suffered in the team's tournament-opening win over Paraguay. The USMNT boss said Pulisic will be analyzed by medical staff on Thursday night before a decision is made ahead of Friday's match in Seattle.

With Christian Pulisic's status still up in the air, the USMNT must solve Australia's towering backline, manage the Socceroos' physicality and stay balanced in a crucial World Cup group-stage clash.

The U.S. may be missing a key attacker - could they turn to Reyna to provide the spark needed in the second group stage game?

The first round of 2026 World Cup group-stage fixtures is in the books, and the tournament has gotten off to a flyer. Despite a lack of eye-catching fixtures on paper in the new, expanded format, there have been thrills and spills aplenty, with all the big names showing up for their respective countries on football's biggest stage. Well, almost all of them.