Pulisic subbed out of USMNT World Cup opener after calf tightness

After a strong first half, United States fans grew concerned when Christian Pulisic did not return for the second half of the team's World Cup opener against Paraguay.

The Hershey, Pennsylvania, native, who plays for AC Milan, assisted on the United States' second goal, scored by Folarin Balogun, and stood out among the team's most active players in the opening 45 minutes.

When the squad came out of the tunnel, Sebastian Berhalter, son of former USMNT player and coach Gregg Berhalter, had replaced Pulisic. The team offered no immediate explanation for the change.

During the FOX Sports broadcast, it was reported that Pulisic signaled to family members in the stands that he was fine.

After the United States finished a 4-1 victory, head coach Mauricio Pochettino said Pulisic had taken a kick to the calf that left the muscle tight. He described the decision to remove the forward as purely precautionary.

Pulisic had missed time earlier in the year with a lower-back issue and sat out last summer's Gold Cup after a heavy club schedule with AC Milan.

Pulisic is a central figure for the national team, and his absence was clear in the second half. Fans will likely stay cautious until he returns to the field without issue.