USA vs Australia Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Group Stage
With both teams enjoying extremely impressive victories in their opening game, both the USA and Australia have the chance to secure qualification for the knockout stages as they face off against each other at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – BBC / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – BBC iPlayer & the BBC Sport website & app / USA – FOX One
USA preview: Strong start
Mauricio Pochettino has struggled to get to grips with the USA in the last couple of years, losing in the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Nations League and then in the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2025, but The Stars and Stripes had shown improvements in their pre-tournament friendlies against Senegal and Germany – and they were superb in their opener.
Playing with a seemingly newly-discovered level of aggression and intensity, the States ran riot in Los Angeles in their opener, dispatching of a usually difficult-to-beat Paraguay side by four goals to one. They raced into a 3-0 lead by half-time with a Damian Bobadilla own goal followed by a brace for Folarin Balogun, before Gio Reyna scored an excellent trivela-style goal after Mauricio had pulled one back for the Paraguayans mid-way through the second-half.
Australia preview: A surprise win
Former Crystal Palace boss Tony Popovic took charge of the Australians mid-way through their AFC qualification campaign for FIFA World Cup 2026 and he massively improved The Socceroos. They headed into the tournament with a clear gameplan to soak up and strike on the counter-attack and everything went perfectly to plan against Turkiye at BC Place in Vancouver.
Ceding possession to the Turks, and dealing with a lot of pressure, Turkiye couldn’t find a way through the Australians, usually just shooting from long-range due to the aggression of the Australian defence. Then, on the counter-attack, the exciting prospect Nestory Irankunda scored in the first half before St Pauli midfielder Connor Metcalfe sealed a 2-0 victory in the second half in Canada.
USA team news: Pulisic should be fine
Further team news will appear here closer to the match after pre-match press conferences...
Having been brilliant in the first half of their clash against Paraguay, key man Christian Pulisic was taken off at half-time with a slight knock being cited but it does appear as though 'Captain America', as he is nicknamed, should be fine for their second game.
It would be a surprise for Pochettino to make any changes, unless enforced, with Crystal Palace centre-back Chris Richards fighting his way back to full fitness and Sergino Dest shining down the right-wing.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Freese; Freeman, Richards, Ream, Robinson; Adams, Tillman; Dest, McKennie, Pulisic; Balogun
Unavailable:
Questionable: Pulisic (Fitness)
Australia team news: Big calls
Further team news will appear here closer to the match after pre-match press conferences...
There was shock when Tony Popovic dropped the Australia eleven for the clash with Turkiye as captain and veteran Mat Ryan was left out, but his stand-in, Patrick Beach, excelled between the sticks and will retain his spot.
Former Hull City midfielder Jackson Irvine was another big name axed from the lineup by Popovic and he has his work cut out to get back in Australia's side in this FIFA World Cup.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Beach; Circati, Souttar, Burgess; Italiano, Okon-Engstler, O'Neill, Metcalfe, Bos; Irankunda, Toure
Unavailable:
Questionable:
USA’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Chris Richards ($4.1m) – Defender
Christian Pulisic ($7.0m) – Midfielder
Folarin Balogun ($6.0m) – Forward
Matchday 2 captain pick: Folarin Balogun
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Christian Pulisic
Free kicks: Christian Pulisic
Corners: Christian Pulisic, Giovanni Reyna
Australia’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Jacob Italiano ($4.2m) – Defender
Jordan Bos ($4.0m) – Defender
Nestory Irankunda ($5.1m) – Forward
Matchday 2 captain pick: Nestory Irankunda
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Ajdin Hrustic
Free kicks: Nestory Irankunda, Ajdin Hrustic
Corners: Ajdin Hrustic
Key stats
- The USA are aiming to win successive FIFA World Cup matches for the first time since the inaugural edition in 1930 when they recorded back-to-back 3-0 successes over Belgium and Paraguay in their opening two fixtures.
- The USA have lost just once in their last ten group stage outings (W4 D5); a 1-0 reverse against eventual champions Germany in the 2014 edition.
- The USA have only failed to score in two of their last 15 FIFA World Cup matches.
- Only one of the USA’s 38 FIFA World Cup matches has finished 0-0; their group stage draw with England at Qatar 2022.
- The USA have drawn their second match in their last five FIFA World Cup participations.
- This is Australia’s first FIFA World Cup match against a Concacaf team, in their 22nd fixture.
- Australia have won their last three FIFA World Cup group matches without conceding a goal.
- Australia are aiming to start a FIFA World Cup campaign with successive wins for the first time.
Click here for EVEN MORE stats & facts about this fixture!
USA vs Australia prediction
This one is going to be a clash of styles. USA were excellent in swarming the Paraguayans but it does have to be acknowledged and accepted that Paraguay afforded them a fair amount of space and were fairly kind opposition for an American side using the excitement of the occasion to their benefit.
Australia will be tighter and more rigid for the US to try and break through. As well as that, as was the case on occasion for Paraguay in the second half in LA, Popovic’s side will believe they will carry a major and potent threat on the counter-attack. Both teams scoring would therefore be a decent bet for this one up in the state of Washington, especially with the two teams having eased the pressure on themselves in their opener.
USA vs Australia betting tip: Both teams to score
