sport news Christian Pulisic WILL PLAY against Holland in Team USA's round-of-16 World Cup ... trends now

Christian Pulisic has been cleared to play for the United States in its World Cup round-of-16 match against Holland on Saturday.

The team announced the move on Friday, less than 24 hours before the teams' do-or-die match in Qatar.

Pulisic left Tuesday's final group stage match against Iran at halftime after bruising his pelvic bone in a collision with the goalkeeper while scoring in the 38th minute. The Americans won 1-0 to advance.

US coach Gregg Berhalter was optimistic early Friday morning before the news became official.

'It looks pretty good, but we'll have to see him today on the pitch to get confirmation of that,' Berhalter said before Friday's training session.

Pulisic, a 24-year-old winger, was taken to a hospital after halftime and then returned to the team hotel in time for the postgame celebration. Pulisic said Thursday he was feeling better and planned to train that night.

The Chelsea outcast previously predicted on social media that he would be ready for Saturday's game.

Forward Josh Sargent left the Iran match in the 77th minute, three minutes after injuring his right ankle in a challenge by Majid Hosseini.

'He's another one we're going to test in training. Let's see where he's at,' Berhalter said of Sargent. 'With Christian we're hopeful, I think with him a little less so. ... At this stage, it's go time. If you can push through it, you do. So I'm sure he'll have that mindset.'

Haji Wright and Jesús Ferreira are the other strikers on the US roster. Sargent started against Wales and Iran, and Wright against England.