After a promising performance but disappointing result against Ecuador on Friday, the United States men hope to turn their quality play into a victory as they meet Australia outside Denver on Tuesday.
Mauricio Pochettino saw his side dominate their South American opponents on the passage of play. They were by far the more dangerous team, yet they were thwarted by Ecuador goalkeeper Hernan Galindez on numerous occasions, and only Folarin Balogun's 71st-minute equalizer saw them scrape across with a 1-1 draw.
They will look to break down 25th-ranked Australia, who were battered by Canada but managed to keep a clean sheet only by the star performance of goalkeeper Paul Izzo and a significant amount of luck.
The Socceroos have faced the U.S. Three times in history, with one each of a win, a draw, and a loss.
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USA vs. Australia lineups: Starting XI, team news
Antonee Robinson only just returned from offseason knee surgery that kept him largely uninvolved at Fulham early this Premier League season. He was included on the roster for the first time since March, although he missed the Ecuador game.
Tyler Adams was not included in the roster due to the Bournemouth midfielder expecting the birth of a child in the next few days. Christian Pulisic came off the bench against Ecuador due to ankle swelling, while Alejandro Zendejas has sustained a knee injury and returned to Club America for recovery.
MORE: A full breakdown of the USMNT roster for October friendlies against Ecuador and Australia
Ricardo Pepi was brought off early in PSV's league match against Excelsior, and while the muscle injury is thought to be minor, he was left off the roster. His club teammate Sergino Dest was absent from PSV's Champions League draw with Bayer Leverkusen but returned for the weekend's league match, so it's unclear if he was omitted fitness reasons.
Midfielder Johnny Cardoso suffered an ankle injury early in his time at new club Atletico Madrid and is unavailable. Gio Reyna's career-long struggles with muscle injuries continue as he remains out with a hamstring issue picked up early in his Borussia Monchengladbach spell.
It was thought there woulud be a battle of goalkeepers this window between Matt Turner and Matt Freese, as 2022 World Cup starter Turner is back in the fold after ceding the last few camps to Freese, but Freese starts again today after doing so against Ecuador, indicating he is the clear frontrunner moving forward. Outside of that, Mauricio Pochettino makes six changes to the XI that drew with Friday's South American opposition.
USA starting XI (3-4-2-1, right to left): Freese (GK) — M. Robinson, Richards, McKenzie — Freeman, Roldan, Sands, Weah — Pulisic, McKennie — Wright.
Full USA roster
Goalkeepers: Chris Brady, Matt Freese, Patrick Schulte, Matt Turner
Defenders: Max Arfsten, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alex Freeman, Mark McKenzie, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson, Miles Robinson, Chris Richards
Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson, Diego Luna, Weston McKennie, Aidan Morris, Cristian Roldan, James Sands, Tanner Tessman, Malik Tillman
Forwards: Patrick Agyemang, Folarin Balogun, Christian Pulisic, Timothy Weah, Haji Wright.
Croatian-born Aussie international Fran Karacic was forced to withdraw from the squad due to an injury picked up in a league match just before the window while on club duty with Hajduk Split. He was replaced by uncapped Jacob Italiano, who plays for Grazer AK in the Austrian top flight.
Ageing veterans Jackson Irvine and Aziz Behich have been phased out of the international picture and have not been called in for a number of windows. In their stead, a young crop of talent has come through, headlined by 21-year-old Mohamed Toure who has been in strong form for Danish club Randers and bagged a brace in the September friendly win over New Zealand. Toure started against Canada, as did 19-year-old goal scorer Nestory Irankunda who plays for Watford after leaving Bayern Munich, but both are rotated out of the XI today.
Instead of veteran Mitch Duke, who has struggled this season for both club and country, Martin Boyle is given the opportunity to shine up front. Goalkeeper Paul Izzo was outstanding against Canada, but regular Mathew Ryan is brought back in regardless.
Australia starting XI (5-4-1, right to left): Ryan (GK) — Italiano, Geria, Burgess, Circati, Bos — D'Agostino, O'Neill, Ballard, Metcalfe — Boyle.
Australia subs: Izzo (GK), Gauci (GK), Degenek, Mmiller, Rowles, Toure, Hrustic, Iraknunda, Duke, Devlin, Yazbek, Matthews.
Full Australia squad
Goalkeepers: Joe Gauci, Paul Izzo, Mathew Ryan
Defenders: Jordan Bos, Cameron Burgess, Alessandro Circati, Milos Degenek, Jason Geria, Jacob Italiano, Hayden Matthews, Lewis Miller, Kye Rowles
Midfielders: Max Balard, Cameron Devlin, Ajdin Hrustic, Connor Metcalfe, Aiden O'Neill, Alexander Robertson, Patrick Yazbek
Forwards: Daniel Arzani, Martin Boyle, Nicholas D'Agostino, Mitch Duke, Nestory Irankunda, Mohamed Toure.
USA vs. Australia match details
- Date: Tuesday, October, 14, 2025
- Kickoff Time: 7 p.m. Local (9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT) / 12 p.m. AEDT (October 15)
- Location: Dick's Sporting Goods Park (Commerce City, CO)
- Last meeting: USA 3-1 Australia (May 6, 2010 | International Friendly)