In brief
- Australia will take on co-hosts the USA in their second World Cup group match in Seattle at 5am Saturday (AEST).
- A win for either side will secure their spot in the knockout Round of 32.
The Socceroos will be seeking to make a statement and silence the US pundits who dismissed them as a "lay-up" when they take on World Cup co-hosts the USA in their second group match.
After a stunning 2-0 victory over Türkiye, the Socceroos can secure their place in the knockout stages with a victory in Seattle at 5am Saturday (AEST), which you can watch live and free on SBS or SBS On Demand.
Australia head into the match, the second of three group games, with high hopes, but as clear underdogs, a familiar position for them at the World Cup.
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- When the Socceroos matches start
The fixture is arguably the most-hyped of Australia's group matches after several US pundits dismissed the Socceroos as the weakest in the group.
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"We know that we want to earn our respect," Socceroos coach Tony Popovic said at a press conference in Seattle on Thursday, local time.
"We know that by our performances we can put Australian football on the world map, and that's what we aim to do."
Australia could receive a significant boost, with star USA winger Christian Pulisic in serious doubt for the match. But Popovic himself has said Australia will have to play better than they did in their opener, to beat the USA.
Dubbed "Captain America" and the face of the team's World Cup campaign, Pulisic picked up a calf injury in training last week and came off at half-time in the USA's 4-1 win over Paraguay after contributing to two goals.
He has been limited to light training since Monday and has not participated in a full team session.
"We will see," USA coach Mauricio Pochettino said.
"If he is not available for tomorrow, he will be available for the next game ... he's doing a massive effort trying to be ready."
What's at stake for the Socceroos?
With the USA sitting top of Group D on goal difference, the match sets up several interesting scenarios for what comes next.
- Either team will secure their place in the Round of 32 with a victory.
- The USA will win the group by defeating Australia, provided Türkiye do not beat Paraguay later in the day. The USA have only won their World Cup group in 1930 and 2010.
- Australia will top the group with a win, and Türkiye winning or drawing against Paraguay. Australia have never topped their group.
- If it's a draw, the USA will remain on top and Australia second due to goal difference, regardless of the result between Türkiye and Paraguay. The Group D standings will then be decided in the final round of matches.
- If Australia lose, they could remain in second or slip to third, depending on the result between Türkiye and Paraguay. The final standings will then be decided in the final group matches.
The Group D winner will face the best third-placed team from one of five groups (Group B, E, F, I or J). They will also remain on the US west coast, with their Round of 32 match in Santa Clara, near San Francisco.
The runners-up will play the second-placed team from Group G (Belgium, Iran, New Zealand or Egypt) in Arlington, Texas.
Should Australia qualify for the knockouts as one of the best third-placed teams, predicting their opponent and venue becomes complicated, as it will depend on the results of other groups.
Key factors that could decide the match
Both sides will be brimming with confidence after statement wins in their group openers.
While the USA has looked dangerous in attack, they have conceded 12 goals in their past five matches.
Their high defensive line could create opportunities for Australia's counter-attack, led by Mohamed Touré and supported by wingers Connor Metcalfe and Nestory Irankunda.
One of the biggest questions is whether Popovic will stick with the same starting line-up that defeated Türkiye.
He made the boldest selection call of his tenure when he dropped captain Mat Ryan and vice-captain Jackson Irvine for youngsters Patrick Beach and Paul Okon-Engstler, while also starting Irankunda.
The gamble paid off, with Beach making eight saves, while Irankunda opened the scoring after a long, lofted pass from Okon-Engstler.
"You saw the changes the boss made. He could make them again. He might not," defender Alessandro Circati said this week.
"I've actually got no idea. It's all up to him."
Popovic is also yet to play winger Cristian Volpato, who defected from Italy last month.
'Ready to fight'
The USA will enter the match as clear favourites, with a home-ground advantage before a 68,000-strong crowd at Seattle Stadium.
Known for their aggressive high press, the USA will seek to break down Australia's defence, which withstood immense pressure from Türkiye.
Pochettino praised Australia's defence and their ability to launch quick counter-attacks.
He said the USA was "ready to fight" against Australia and needed to be "on the edge of the line".
"They are very aggressive, they have a great organisation," he said.
"You can see that it was difficult for Türkiye to create chances, clear chances. And then, in the moment that they recover the ball, they have arrows in front, and they transit so quick, so fast.
"The mentality of the whole team, they create a great mentality. And it's difficult to play against a team that really believes in what they are doing."
Players to watch out for
Australia: Nestory Irankunda, Mo Touré, Harry Souttar, Patrick Beach, Jordy Bos.
USA: Christian Pulisic (if fit), Chris Richards, Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun, Weston McKennie.
When did the sides last meet?
Australia last played the USA in a 2-1 friendly defeat in Denver, Colorado, in October.
Popovic said his side learned lessons from that match.
"We got what we wanted out of that game. We had a fantastic hit out against a very good opponent, and so we were pleased with that," he said.
"Since then, we feel we've improved, we're a better team now than what we were in October, and I'm sure the US is as well."
The two sides have met four times before, all of them friendlies. The USA holds the advantage, with two wins, one draw and one defeat.
When's kick-off?
The match kicks off at 5am Saturday AEST (12pm Friday local time) at Seattle Stadium.
You can watch all 104 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ live, free and exclusive on SBS, SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand.
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