Inglewood, Calif. — Christian Pulisic, a prominent figure in U.S. men’s soccer, was taken off the field during halftime of the World Cup opener on Friday against Paraguay. U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino explained that Pulisic was unable to ease discomfort in his left calf.

Pulisic had been kicked two days prior to the match. Despite this, he delivered an excellent performance in the first half, including assisting Folarin Balogun’s goal. As a precaution, and with a 3-0 lead, the team decided to substitute him at halftime.

“Hope that is not a big issue,” Pochettino remarked. “It was rushed, because we needed to make a last-minute change. But I think it’s better now and I hope he will be available for the next game.”

This match was the first World Cup event on U.S. soil since 1994. The U.S. team is set to compete against Australia on June 19 in Seattle.

Pulisic shared his thoughts, saying, I just got a bit of a kick in the first half, so I’m really hoping that it’s nothing. He emphasized taking precautions and remained optimistic about his recovery, mentioning past experiences with similar issues.