2026 World Cup: Australia relishes challenge of playing U.S. in Seattle

by · The Seattle Times

To call the Australia men’s national team’s time in Seattle a quick trip for the World Cup is probably an understatement. 

The Socceroos and coach Tony Popovic, who are based in the Bay Area, practiced in Oakland, Calif., at noon Thursday, simulating the midday kickoff for Friday’s Group D game against the United States at Seattle Stadium. Australia arrived in the Pacific Northwest during the late afternoon Thursday, and will return to California immediately after Friday’s game. Australia’s total time in Seattle will probably come in right around the 24-hour mark. 

But the Socceroos have been preparing for a game like this one, specifically, for months. It’s why Australia scheduled a friendly exhibition with the United States in October 2025. Why it played a friendly with Switzerland that kicked off at noon and why they played Mexico in Southern California during the final run-up to the tournament. 

“We tested, logistically, how that would look for us for this match,” Popovic said. “We got some learnings from that, and we put them in place for this game. We’re confident we’ll be ready for the kickoff.”

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Popovic and Socceroo center back Harry Souttar, who served as the team’s captain during Australia’s 2-0 win against Turkey after goalkeeper and regular captain Matthew Ryan was an unused substitute, understand they are walking into one of the unique environments at the tournament. 

The United States, tournament hosts coming off an invigorating 4-1 win against Paraguay, are expected to play in front of a raucous home crowd, in a stadium built to increase noise, in a city excited to show off its love for the beautiful game. All with a spot in the knockout stages on the line if either of the two teams can produce a win.  

But Souttar, who played in front of nearly 80,000 fans during Australia’s 1-0 loss against Mexico at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on May 30, said the Socceroos feel ready to face the hostile environment. 

“It’s going to be loud; we know that coming into it,” Souttar said. “But it’s just one we’re really looking forward to.” 

And the Australians have some notable experience to draw upon against the United States, too. The USMNT defeated Australia 2-1 on Oct. 14, 2025 during a friendly at DSG Park in Commerce City, Colo. A brace by striker Haji Wright helped the United States storm back from an early deficit inflicted when Australia wingback Jordan Bos scored in the 19th minute. Both of Wright’s goals were assisted by Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan. 

It was a physical game, with the two teams combining for 26 fouls and two yellow cards. The Socceroos won 45 duels, 32 on the ground and 13 in the air, while the USMNT won 35. 

“We take what we need out of that game, I’m sure the U.S. would have as well, and we wanted to experience playing in the U.S.,” Popovic said. “We experienced playing at altitude. We tested ourselves with travel. So for us, and I can only speak for us, we got what we wanted out of that game. … But since then, we feel we’ve improved. 

“We’re a better team now than we were in October. And I’m sure the U.S. is as well. So it should be a really good game tomorrow.”

Just how much either team can take out of their October meeting is a real question. Both teams played their preferred styles. The United States, under coach Mauricio Pochettino, enjoyed 64% of the possession. Australia sat back, allowed just four shots on goal, and tried to utilize counterattacks. 

But the personnel will likely differ vastly for both teams when they meet Friday. Only five American players — goalkeeper Matt Freese, defenders Chris Richards and Alex Freeman, midfielder Weston McKennie and forward Christian Pulisic — started the game against Australia in October and were also part of Pochettino’s opening lineup against Paraguay on June 12. Pulisic left the game early, too, because of an injury.

Six members of Australia’s lineup against the USMNT in October also started its World Cup opener against Turkey. But there were several notable omissions, including goalkeeper Patrick Beach, who made eight saves to help Australia record a clean sheet against Turkey; left winger Nestory Irankunda, the man of the match against Turkey who scored the opening goal; midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler, who assisted Irankunda’s opener; striker Mohamed Touré and Souttar. 

“I didn’t play the last game against them, but obviously, I was watching it,” Souttar said. “It’s good. We know they’re going to start sharp. They’re going to start fast, just like their opening game. So we’ve got to match that.” 

Souttar said the Australians are simply focused on playing their game and putting their best players such as Irankunda and Touré in positions to succeed. They aren’t thinking ahead, worrying about the travel or the crowd noise. Now that they’re finally — albeit briefly — in Seattle, they’re only thinking about getting the job done.

“It’s literally just about the game tomorrow and how we approach it,” he said. “How we start the game. In regards to the excitement, that’s just a natural thing. Everyone has that, whether you’re a young player or an old player. You’re playing in the World Cup for your country against one of the host nations. Not many times in your career are you ever going to get to do that.”