USA vs Australia – Match preview and team news
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The Football FaithfulFri, June 19, 2026 at 7:10 AM UTC·3 min readCo-hosts USA return to action tonight, aiming to build on a spectacular opening victory at the 2026 World Cup.
Mauricio Pochettino watched his clinical side dismantle Paraguay, igniting tournament fever across the host nation. Meanwhile, Australia arrive in Seattle following a monumental upset against fancied Turkey on matchday one. Another victory for either nation tonight would almost certainly seal a place in the knockout rounds.
AdvertisementAdvertisementUSA vs Australia – Match preview and team news
Date: Friday, 19 June 2026
Kick-off: 20:00 BST
Venue: Seattle Stadium, Seattle
Referee: Felix Zwayer (Germany)
Last Meeting: USA 2–1 Australia, 15 Oct 2025, International friendly
USA team news
Captain Christian Pulisic remains a fitness concern after coming off at half-time against Paraguay. The AC Milan forward has been restricted to individual training sessions since that match, though the mood in the camp is calm. Pochettino has described the prognosis as "good," and Tyler Adams told reporters to "relax" when asked about his teammate.
Pulisic is expected to start. Folarin Balogun, who scored twice on his World Cup debut against Paraguay, also picked up a minor knock but is similarly expected to be fit. Pochettino is otherwise expected to name an unchanged side, with Alex Zendejas among the options from the bench should cover be required wide.
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Tony Popovic has a largely fit squad to choose from as he targets another famous scalp. Mo Touré is the one fitness concern, having suffered cramp during the Turkey match, though he has been assessed since and remains in contention.
Goalkeeper Patrick Beach expects to start again after an impressive eight-save performance on his competitive international debut. Popovic is expected to name an unchanged side from the XI that stunned Turkey, retaining the defensive structure and counter-attacking blueprint that earned Australia their opening victory.
Form
USA
The Stars and Stripes carried strong momentum from their warm-up fixtures straight into the tournament opener. An early own goal set the tone before Folarin Balogun netted a brace against a shell-shocked Paraguay.
Gio Reyna added a stunning late strike to complete a 4-1 victory in California — their joint-largest winning margin on the global stage. The hosts must now demonstrate they can sustain that intensity without inviting defensive lapses.
Australia
Australia defied pre-tournament expectations with an unlikely 2-0 victory over dark horses Turkey. Nestory Irankunda became his nation's youngest World Cup scorer before Connor Metcalfe sealed the win after the interval.
The Socceroos absorbed intense pressure throughout, facing 30 shots in a frantic encounter. That disciplined display has filled the squad with belief ahead of facing the co-hosts. They will target a US defence that has failed to keep a clean sheet in nine matches.
AdvertisementAdvertisementPredicted lineups
USA possible starting XI: Freese; Freeman, Richards, Ream, Robinson; Adams, Tillman; Zendejas, McKennie, Reyna; Balogun
Australia possible starting XI: Beach; Italiano, Circati, Souttar, Burgess, Bos; Irankunda, Okon-Engstler, O'Neill, Metcalfe; Touré
How to watch USA vs Australia?
UK viewers can watch the match live and free-to-air on BBC One, with a live stream available via BBC iPlayer.
Read more –📈 World Cup Power Rankings: German goal-fest and Messi magic
See Also- Four things we learned from England 4-2 Croatia
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
