USA v Australia: World Cup 2026 line-ups, stats and preview, TV channel, live online stream and prediction

At a World Cup with more days in between games than the 2022 finals, co-hosts the USA have enjoyed their downtime as a group since a rousing 4-1 win over Paraguay in Los Angeles last Saturday to start their tournament.

“Spending this time with these guys is amazing,” says forward Brenden Aaronson (via USMNT), adding that the players watched each fixture unfold across the first matchdays of the finals.

“I’m always playing video games with the guys, whether it’s Clash Royale on our phones, PGA, FIFA or other games.

“We always like to have fun with each other. The atmosphere [against Paraguay] was up there for me as one of the best US crowds that I’ve seen in a long, long time.

“It was amazing. It was top notch. We’re going to Seattle knowing we’re going to have the same turn-out, so we’re really excited about that. It definitely pushed us on to have such a great game.”

Australia also started in style, beating 2002 semi-finalists Turkiye 2-0 in Vancouver to put themselves on the brink of reaching the last 16 at a second successive World Cup.

“They’re going to come aggressive and front foot,” predicted defender Cameron Burgess, praising the USA’s “tremendous talent”.

“We analysed [Turkiye] as much as we could and were well versed on what their strengths were, on and off the ball.

“It’s a credit to the coaching staff, the analysts, to give us all the detail we can possibly get, and for the boys to take it all in and then go out in the pitch and implement it.

“We know that the game will be different in terms of how the US play and press. It’s up to us to be ready.”

World Cup 2026: USA v Australia team news

Christian Pulisic impressed against Paraguay before the Milan forward was replaced by the USA at half-time with a calf issue.

The forward trained individually on Monday but head coach Mauricio Pochettino called the prognosis for his captain “good”, while midfielder Tyler Adams responded with a call to “relax” when he was asked about his teammate.

“Christian will be ready,” added Adams. “I think he picked up a knock a few days before the game and I think he got kicked in the same spot.

“When you go in at half-time, things get tight within the 15, 20-minute break. But he’ll be fine.”

Mo Toure, who missed more than a month with a muscle injury earlier this year, is a doubt for Australia after suffering cramp against Turkiye.

“I thought it was worse than it was because it just came out of nowhere, and it could be a tear,” the Norwich City striker said after the game.

Patrick Beach made his competitive international debut against Turkiye and the 22-year-old showed why he displaced 34-year-old caps centurion Maty Ryan in goal.

USA v Australia: World Cup 2026 predicted line-ups

USA starting XI: Matt Freese, Alex Freeman, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson, Sergino Dest, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Malik Tillman, Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun,

Australia starting XI: Patrick Beach, Jacob Italiano, Alessandro Circati, Harry Souttar, Cameron Burgess, Jordan Bos, Connor Metcalfe, Aiden O’Neill, Paul Okon-Engstler, Nestory Irankunda, Tete Yengi

Where to watch USA v Australia: TV channel, live online streams

Kick-off on Friday is at 20:00 BST (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT). In the UK, live coverage is on BBC One.

Streaming on a vast range of devices is available through the BBC iPlayer app and BBC Sport website.

World Cup 2026: USA v Australia stats

• This is the first World Cup meeting between the teams, who have shared four friendlies
• The USA have won their last two encounters, prevailing 3-1 in June 2010 and 2-1 in October 2025, when Haji Wright scored twice from Cristian Roldan assists
• They have won each of their last seven matches played in Seattle, including each of their five matches at the Seattle Stadium
• The win over Paraguay was the USA’s joint-largest margin of victory at the World Cup and the first time they’ve scored at least four goals in a match at the finals
• The USMNT last won consecutive games at the tournament in their first two matches in the inaugural 1930 edition, one of which was a three-goal victory over Paraguay.
• Australia’s only previous match against a World Cup host was in 1974, losing 3-0 to West Germany in Hamburg
• They have won three of their last four World Cup matches (L1), which is more than they won across their first 17 matches in the competition (W2 D4 L11)
• Those victories have come despite facing 31 more shots than they had themselves across all three wins (26 shots, 57 faced)
• The 30 shots Australia faced in their win over Turkiye on MD1 was the second-most they have absorbed in a World Cup match, after a total of 31 against West Germany in 1974)
• Nestory Irankunda became Australia’s youngest ever World Cup scorer (20 years, 125 days) in their win over Turkiye on MD1 and could become the first player under the age of 21 to score in his first two World Cup appearances since Memphis Depay for the Netherlands in 2014

World Cup 2026: USA v Australia prediction

USA 2-1 Australia

Australia had under 29% of possession and an expected goals total of 0.77 against Turkiye, so the Socceroos may need something of a smash-and-grab if they are to prevent a free-scoring USA side from reaching the last 16.