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USA vs. Ecuador live score: USMNT result, updates, highlights, stats from October international friendly

Kyle Bonn

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USA vs. Ecuador live score: USMNT result, updates, highlights, stats from October international friendly image

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With a truly first-team roster at his disposal for the first time in months, Mauricio Pochettino continues the quest to prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the U.S. takes on Ecuador in an international friendly from Austin on Friday.

Pochettino's time in charge has been anything but steady, as heavy criticism for both performances and player selection has proven a challenge. Yet the head man insists the USMNT remains on course for its best showing at next summer's monumental tournament on home soil.

STREAM: Catch USMNT friendlies on Sling in the U.S.

After disappointing at the CONCACAF Nations League last March, Pochettino changed course heavily, casting out the regulars while spending valuable match time through the summer — particularly in the Gold Cup, where they fell to Mexico in the final — and early fall calling in fringe players to engineer genuine competition for places.

Now, with what appears to be the first-choice options in the U.S. player pool back in the mix, Pochettino will hope to reap the fruits of his labor as the World Cup draws ever closer and a nervous aura lingers in the air.

Today, they face a 24th-ranked Ecuador side that stunned CONMEBOL to finish second in their World Cup qualifying standings, even as the South American nation started behind the field after being docked points for fielding an ineligible player in the previous cycle.

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USA vs. Ecuador score

Team Score (Pregame)Goal scorers
USA––
Ecuador––

Location: Q2 Stadium (Austin, TX)
Referee: TBA

Starting lineups:

USA (3-4-2-1, right to left): 24. Freese (GK) — 12. M. Robinson, 3. Richards, 13. Ream — 21. Weah, 23. Morris, 4. Tessman, 18. Arfsten — 17. Tillman, 8. McKennie — 20. Balogun.

Ecuador (4-4-1-1, right to left): 1. Galindez (GK) — 17. Preciado, 4. Ordonez, 6. Pacho, 7. Estupinan — 21. Franco, 8. Alcivar, 15. Vite, 9. Yeboah — 10. Paez — 13. Valencia.

USMNT HQ: Predicted World Cup roster | 2025 schedule and results | How World Cup draw will work

USA vs. Ecuador live updates, highlights from international friendly

15 mins to kickoff: It wasn't clear initially whether Christian Pulisic would miss the match for sure, or whether he'd be on the USMNT bench. That was confirmed now with Pulisic appearing amongst the substitutes, although it's unclear whether he'll actually be available to come into the game. Apparently the AC Milan star is dealing with ankle swelling that cropped up after Wednesday's training session, something which apparently has lingered from club preseason.

Antonee Robinson and Alex Zendejas both do not appear on the U.S. bench.

30 mins to kickoff: It will be interesting to see whether Tim Weah or Weston McKennie are playing at right wing-back.

Most likely, that will be for Weah to manage, while McKennie gets to play an advanced No. 10 role alongside Malik Tillman and behind Folarin Balogun. This would mirror Xabi Alonso's revolutionary tactics at Bayer Leverkusen, where Tillman is playing the more attack-minded Florian Wirtz role while McKennie plays the "No. 10 destroyer" role that Jonas Hoffman excelled in.

45 mins to kickoff: The Ecuador lineup is out, and it's largely as expected. With Moises Caicedo and Piero Hincapie both out, Joel Ordonez of Club Brugge gets the start at the back while John Yeboah joins the XI. It's a very attacking lineup, as both Yeboah and 18-year-old Kendry Paez are attack-minded midfielders and can get forward to support Enner Valencia. It will be interesting to see which one of them starts behind Valencia and who is out wide on the left.

1 hour to kickoff: The starting lineup for the U.S. is out! Matt Freese starts in goal over Matt Turner. Miles Robinson rounds out the back three alongside Chris Richards and Tim Ream. Christian Pulisic does not appear in the XI, which tracks after Mauricio Pochettino said he did not train yesterday. Neither does Antonee Robinson.

1 hour 15 mins to kick: Something to watch tonight and also against Australia is the goalkeeper race. Matt Turner was the starter at the 2022 World Cup and has been the presumed No. 1 for years now, but his inability to get playing time in Europe and subsequent move back to MLS opened the door for a challenger, and Matt Freese has stepped through that door with aplomb.

It's conceivable that both men get to start one game to prove they are the one for the job. We'll see who gets the first crack at it tonight shortly.

1 hour 30 mins to kick: While temperatures are beginning to cool around much of the U.S. as winter slowly approaches, it's still quite toasty in Texas. They're expecting around 85 degrees at kickoff in Austin tonight.

1 hour 45 mins to kick: Mauricio Pochettino raised some alarm bells in his pre-match press conference by stating that Christian Pulisic did not train on Thursday, leaving his participation tonight in doubt. Poch did not clarify what his issue is, leaving both USMNT and AC Milan fans to wonder if Pulisic is simply being given rest or if he's actually picked up an injury.

2 hours to kickoff: Pochettino trialed a three-center-back system in the September international window, and it was largely effective against Japan. While the sample size is small, it's expected that the performance was enough to see Pochettino test the formation moving forward with more first-team regulars now in the mix.

Regardless of how it's set up tactically, the back line will be anchored by Chris Richards, who has blossomed into a star for club and country thanks to his growth at Crystal Palace, where he has played a key part in a club record 18-game unbeaten streak. A recent part of that was a tone-setting 2-1 victory over Liverpool where Richards helped keep new Reds' signing Alexander Isak quiet.

USA vs. Ecuador kick off time

This international friendly kicks off from Q2 Stadium on Friday, October 10 at 7:30 p.m. local time in Austin, TX. Here's how that time translates across the major time zones throughout the United States:

 DateKickoff time
Eastern TimeFri, Oct. 108:30 p.m.
Central Time*Fri, Oct. 107:30 p.m.
Mountain TimeFri, Oct. 106:30 p.m.
Pacific TimeFri, Oct. 105:30 p.m.

* Local time in Austin, TX

USA vs. Ecuador lineups, team news

Tyler Adams is not included in the roster, and Pochettino confirmed this was due to the Bournemouth midfielder expecting the birth of a child in the next few days.

Mauricio Pochettino said ahead of the match that Christian Pulisic did not train on Thursday and is being assessed, while Alejandro Zendejas has picked up an injury and will be absent for the game. Antonee Robinson is only just returning from offseason knee surgery that kept him largely uninvolved at Fulham thus far, and he may not be risked much during the international break.

PSV teammates Ricardo Pepi and Sergino Dest have picked up minor injuries at the club level and were left off the international roster, even as Dest returned to club action on the weekend before the window commenced.

Johnny Cardoso has picked up 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.

USA starting lineup (3-4-2-1): Freese (GK) — M. Robinson, Richards, Ream — Weah, Morris, Tessmann, Arfsten — Tillman, McKennie — Balogun.

USA subs: Turner (GK), Brady (GK), Schulte (GK), Carter-Vickers, McKenzie, Freeman, Roldan, Sands, Aaronson, Luna, Wright, Pulisic, Agyemang.

MORE: Full USMNT roster for October international friendlies

There are a few big-name absentees from the Ecuador national team this international break.

Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie is missing due to a groin injury. Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo is out of the international fold for now due to fitness concerns, with Blues head coach Enzo Maresca saying that while he has been able to play for his club, he is playing "injured" and is "not well."

Gonzalo Plata is in the same boat as Caicedo, playing through a knee injury for his club Flamengo and given the international break to rest up.

Ecuador starting lineup (4-4-1-1): Galindez (GK) — Preciado, Ordonez, Pacho, Estupinan — Franco, Alcivar, Vite, Yeboah — Paez — Valencia.

Ecuador subs: (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)

USA vs. Ecuador live stream, TV channel

Here is how to watch the match around the United States:

  • English:
    • TV channel: TNT, truTV
    • Streaming: Sling, Max
  • Spanish:

Kyle Bonn

Kyle Bonn is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.