Why is Christian Pulisic not playing vs Peru today? Injury status and reason for USMNT star's absence explained

Christian Pulisic is absent as USMNT face Peru, with Mauricio Pochettino leading the Americans into their first post-2026 World Cup friendly.

Published on: Sep 27, 2026, 03:00:20 IST

By Sehjal Gupta

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Christian Pulisic is not part of the USMNT squad for the friendly against Peru, leaving one of the team’s biggest names out of Mauricio Pochettino’s latest plans. The United States face Peru on Saturday as Pochettino begins shaping his squad for the next World Cup cycle.

Christian Pulisic is absent as USMNT face Peru, with Mauricio Pochettino leading the Americans into their first post-2026 World Cup friendly.. (Photo by Isabella BONOTTO / AFP) (AFP)

Pulisic had only recently returned to action for AC Milan after recovering from a leg injury suffered during the USMNT’s 2026 World Cup defeat to Belgium.

Also Read: How did Christian Pulisic injure his leg in US World Cup loss to Belgium? What we know as player says ‘it just sucked’

His absence comes as Pochettino uses the September and October international window to assess several younger players and look at new options for the team.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sehjal Gupta
Sehjal Gupta is a Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times and is part of the US Desk. She covers a wide range of stories from the United States, including politics, sports, entertainment, breaking news, and major global developments. She enjoys working across different beats because every story brings a fresh perspective and an opportunity to explore something different. Before joining Hindustan Times, Sehjal was part of The Times of India, where she headed the International Sports and US Streamers team. She reported on international sports, athlete stories, streamer news, and major developments from around the world. The role gave her the opportunity to work on a diverse range of stories while leading coverage across two evolving news categories. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and believes the experience taught her the importance of staying organised, managing priorities, and adapting to new challenges. Over the years, she has reported on a variety of topics and enjoys taking on stories that keep her curious and encourage her to look beyond the obvious. Expertise: International news, International/US sports, and streamer coverage. Interests: Global affairs, geopolitics, politics, and entertainment. Outside work, Sehjal loves travelling, watching movies, and exploring new places to eat. She enjoys discovering new cultures and believes that some of the best stories and experiences come from stepping outside her comfort zone and exploring unfamiliar places.Read More

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