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GOAL presents the key themes and insights from the latest edition of the USMNT World Cup notebook.

IRVINE, California — On Wednesday, ahead of the United States’ World Cup clash against Australia, the fitness of Christian Pulisic continued to dominate discussions. The American talisman is still managing a knock, a topic his teammates have been addressing throughout the week. Amid the concern, however, the U.S. squad also took a moment to appreciate Lionel Messi’s most recent display of World Cup magic.

Brenden Aaronson and Antonee Robinson spoke to reporters on Wednesday as the U.S. team continued its preparations in Irvine. Here are the major storylines, key talking points, and lighter moments from the day’s media interactions.

All eyes on Pulisic

As has been the case all week, Wednesday’s media session again focused heavily on Pulisic. The consensus among players remained unchanged: he is pushing himself to recover and will play if at all possible. However, some uncertainty lingers regarding the exact nature of his leg injury, which has kept him training individually for several days.

Pulisic told reporters after the Paraguay match that he had no major concerns. His teammates share that confidence but are also ready to adapt should he be unavailable.

“I’m not sure of the exact terminology of his injury,” Robinson said. “He’s been taking it day by day and hasn’t been training fully with the group yet. We still have a few days to see where he’s at, and thankfully, we’ve got plenty of players on the bench who are eager and capable of stepping in to help the team with real quality.

“It’s a long tournament. If he’s not ready for the next game, we’ll make sure he’s fit for the rest of the competition because we’re going to need him. We’re going to need everyone.”

On Tuesday, Tim Weah reinforced that sentiment, explaining just how vital Pulisic is to the team’s success.

Weah on Pulisic’s influence

Few players are better placed to discuss Pulisic’s impact than Weah, who has shared the pitch with him for much of his career. The Marseille forward was effusive in his praise for the American captain.

“Christian, to me, is one of the top five wingers in the world,” Weah said. “He’s one of my favourite players to watch. Playing alongside him for so long has been incredible. It’s the small details in his game — his humility, his consistency. There’s a lot of noise around him, but Christian is amazing, and he showed it against Paraguay.

“His ability on the ball is exceptional and it really elevates us as a team. For me, he’s one of the best players I’ve ever played with. I’m extremely proud of him and hopeful he’ll be ready for the next match.”

Family time

On Monday, Robinson’s children were among the group seen running around during training. Darting between media members and family, the youngest members of the U.S. entourage enjoyed themselves in the California sunshine while their fathers trained nearby.

“They loved it,” Robinson said with a smile.

The family day proved a success. Parents, spouses, and children were all present to witness the work behind the World Cup campaign. For the players, the presence of loved ones served as a refreshing boost, even if the little ones were more interested in playing than watching.

“Family and the support system are a major driving force in our careers,” Robinson explained. “Seeing them makes all this worthwhile — sharing a monumental moment like this with them. Their presence helps distract us from the pressure we face. We’re just enjoying every opportunity we get to spend time together. It’s been wonderful.”

Watching Messi at the World Cup

Like fans around the globe, members of the USMNT have been glued to their screens in recent days. While they have studied plenty of footage on Australia, particularly their match against Turkey, their downtime has still revolved around football — especially the World Cup action.

Aaronson and Robinson were engrossed in Argentina’s win over Algeria on Tuesday. Although they watched with a competitor’s mindset, it was impossible not to admire Messi’s artistry.

“Watching the Turkey versus Australia game was really valuable because we could sit together, analyse it, and determine how we might influence our own match,” Aaronson said. “And then watching Argentina yesterday, you can’t help but be a fan when Messi scores a hat-trick. That’s the magic of the tournament.”

Robinson added, “For fans, Messi is probably the greatest footballer ever, and he’s still performing at such a high level. Watching him display that quality again is special. That’s what makes the World Cup so magical — seeing the best players shine on the biggest stage.”

As the tournament progresses, however, the players know their fan moments will fade. The deeper they go, the more likely they are to cross paths with teams like Argentina.

“If we do face Argentina later on, we’ll be ready,” Aaronson said. “But for now, it’s just fun to watch all these matches.”

Robinson on England’s opener

The group stage still has several marquee fixtures ahead, including one featuring a team close to the hearts of a few U.S. players.

Both Robinson and Folarin Balogun spent their early years in England, whose national team opened their World Cup campaign against Croatia on Wednesday — a familiar foe. Asked if he felt any emotional attachment, Robinson was clear-minded.

“I wouldn’t say I’ll be cheering for England,” he said. “I’ll be wishing my friends who play there do well, but I don’t have a preference for which nation succeeds other than us. I just keep track of my mates — Timo [Castagne] with Belgium, Sander [Berge] with Norway, Issa [Diop] with Morocco — I like following how they’re doing.

“Every match I watch, I just hope it’s a good, competitive game because I’m a football fan as well. If we face England again, like we did last time, it’d be a great rematch — a tough contest — and of course, I’d back us to win.”