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A strong USMNT squad hopes to build on their first October match as they take on Australia outside Denver in an international friendly on Tuesday evening.

Mauricio Pochettino continues the build towards hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup next summer, leading the U.S. to a 1-1 draw against Ecuador on Friday. The draw was a disappointing result in the end, but the hosts were by far the better side, logging a strong attacking effort against a South America side that only conceded five total goals through all of World Cup qualifying.

They’ll hope to turn that effectiveness into a result as they welcome the 25th-ranked Socceroos to town, the third team from the Asian confederation they’ll face in the last four games.

Australia were battered by Canada in their previous October friendly, but managed to snatch a 1-0 victory on a goal by 19-year-old Watford winger Nestory Irankunda and the goalkeeping heroics of Paul Izzo.

The Sporting News is following the USA vs. Australia match live, providing score updates, commentary, and analysis.

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USA vs. Australia live score

  Score (1H) Goal scorers
USA 0 –
Australia 0 –

Location: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (Commerce City, CO)
Referee: TBA

Starting lineups:

USA (3-4-2-1, right to left): 24. Freese (GK) — 12. M. Robinson, 3. Richards, 22. McKenzie — 16. Freeman, 6. Roldan, 15. Sands, 21. Weah — 10. Pulisic, 8. McKennie — 19. Wright.

Australia (5-4-1, right to left): 1. Ryan (GK) — 20. Italiano, 22. Geria, 21. Burgess, 23. Circati, 5. Bos — 7. D’Agostino, 13. O’Neill, 16. Ballard, 8. Metcalfe — 6. Boyle.

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

USA vs. Australia live updates, highlights from October friendly

16th min: Christian Pulisic is the target of a crunching tackle by Jason Geria, who somehow gets away without even a caution from the referee even though he caught the lower leg of the USMNT star in a scissor motion between his legs. A truly naughty challenge that leaves Pulisic in a lot of pain, but U.S. fans eventually breathe a sigh of relief as he eventually gets back on his feet.

10th min: The opening stage of this match has been cagey. The U.S. has dominated possession as expected, but Australia have been stubborn in their low block, making it difficult for the hosts to get through.

Kickoff: They’re under way in Colorado! Can the U.S. repeat their strong performance against Ecuador and turn it into a victory? Can Australia secure a perfect October?

USA vs. Australia: Pre-match commentary, analysis, more

15 mins to kickoff: The U.S. returns to the Denver area, where they’ve won seven of eight all-time matches, including six straight in the state of Colorado. The only two states in which the U.S. has won seven or more consecutive matches are California and Washington.

Kickoff is right around the corner!

30 mins to kickoff: The Socceroos have a new generation leading them into the 2026 FIFA World Cup. While the likes of Nestory Irankunda and Mohamed Traore get the headlines, there’s another face who has enjoyed a meteoric rise to his spot in the Australia XI.

22-year-old defender Alessandro Circati, who was born in Italy and plays for Parma, has already been tabbed as captain of the side despite just making his ninth international appearance. He wore the armband for the first time in the second friendly against New Zealand in September, and again captained the Socceroos on his birthday in the win over Canada a few days ago.

45 mins to kickoff: Mauricio Pochettino has come under some criticism during his time as USMNT head coach, but the players have really taken to his instruction.

Folarin Balogun, who scored the lone goal for his side against Ecuador, has spoken out about how much he has enjoyed playing for the former Tottenham, PSG, and Chelsea boss. “He’s given us so many ideas going forward, and added so much structure,” Balogun said. “I feel like the confidence we have in Poch is obviously showing. And yes, I do think we’re starting to build momentum and get better results against these top sides.”

1 hour to kickoff: The U.S. lineup is out, and there are a few notable changes. However, the most intriguing selection is notable for not being a change, as Matt Freese starts his 10th game in a row in goal for the United States, seeming to indicate that he is the No. 1 choice now in net for Mauricio Pochettino, while Matt Turner is a clear second.

Christian Pulisic starts having shaken off his slight ankle issue, while Haji Wright is brought into the attack. Mark McKenzie gets the start along the back while Miles Robinson gets another run-out, meaning Cameron Carter-Vickers does not see either starting XI this international break. Cristian Roldan and James Sands pair in midfield, while Tim Weah likely flips to left wing-back to accommodate Alex Freeman.

1 hour 15 mins to kick: Australia has released their lineup, and much to the U.S. delight, rising young star Nestory Irankunda does not make the XI even after scoring the game-winner against Canada last time out. Additionally, despite his heroics in goal during that 1-0 victory, Paul Izzo is replaced by veteran Maty Ryan, while Mohamed Toure comes out not for Mitchell Duke up front, but Martin Boyle who has just two goals in 39 international caps.

It will be interesting to see if Mauricio Pochettino rotates his side similarly or goes with a similar group to the eleven that performed well against Ecuador.

1 hour 30 mins to kick: The United States and Australia have both confirmed places at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, alongside 26 other nations who have to this point sealed their spot at next summer’s competition.

The latest to qualify are England, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, all of whom secured spots earlier today.

MORE: All teams to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to this point

1 hour 45 mins to kick: There are reports that Portugal and Belgium will be the first two opponents for the United States in 2026, as the two European nations are set to fly to the U.S. in March for a pair of international friendlies, the last before the World Cup summer.

A report from Steven Goff of the Washington Post says that these two friendlies could come in a slightly different manner, as U.S. Soccer is eyeing a double date at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with both matches coming at the same venue, a deviation from the norm where the USMNT travels across the country playing in various different venues.

It may be some time before these matches are confirmed, as both European nations lead their World Cup qualifying group but have not yet mathematically confirmed a place at the 2026 World Cup, and thus must leave the March international window open until that is set in stone, just incase they fall to second in their group and have to contest the UEFA qualifying playoff during that time.

2 hours to kickoff: These two teams were on the opposite end of similar-looking matches on Friday. While the U.S. was being stymied by repeated saves from Ecuador goalkeeper Hernan Galindez, Australia were frustrating their opponents in the same manner, leading to some pretty humorous posts from the Canada social media account.

It made the Socceroos the lowest-ranked team that has beaten Canada under Jesse Marsch.

USA vs. Australia kick off time

This October international friendly match kicks off from Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Tuesday, October 14 at 7 p.m. local time outside Denver, Colorado. Here’s how that time translates across the major time zones in the United States as well as in Australia:

  Date Kickoff time
Eastern Time Tue, Oct. 14 9 p.m.
Central Time Tue, Oct. 14 8 p.m.
Mountain Time* Tue, Oct. 14 7 p.m.
Pacific Time Tue, Oct. 14 6 p.m.
AWST Wed, Oct. 15 9 a.m.
AEST Wed, Oct. 15 11 a.m.
ADST Wed, Oct. 15 12 p.m.

* Local time at kickoff

USA vs. Australia lineups, team news

Antonee Robinson only just returned to Fulham from offseason knee surgery, and while he’s been included on the roster for the first time since March, he missed the Ecuador game and his status is unclear. Tyler Adams is not on the U.S. roster  the Basournemouth midfielder is expecting the birth of a child soon. Christian Pulisic came off the bench against Ecuador due to ankle swelling, while Alejandro Zendejas picked up a knee injury in training and returned to Club America for recovery.

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.

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 lineup (3-4-2-1): Freese (GK) — M. Robinson, Richards, McKenzie — Freeman, Roldan, Sands, Weah — Pulisic, McKennie — Wright.

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

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, 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 lineup (5-4-1): 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.

USA vs. Australia live stream, TV channel

Here is how to watch the match in some of the world’s major regions:

  • USA:
    • TV (English): TNT, truTV
    • Streaming (English): Sling, Max
    • TV (Spanish): Universo
    • Streaming (Spanish): Fubo, Peacock
  • Australia:
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