The United States Men’s National Team opened the international window with a draw against Ecuador (1-1), learning lessons from a potential contender for next summer’s World Cup. The grind continues with a friendly
against another qualified side, Australia, providing a different tactical challenge that can ideally yield future dividends for a coalescing group. The Oceanic-by-way-of-Asia program has reached the big stage seven times, including the past five editions, and advanced to the Round of 16 twice, in 2006 and 2022. Commerce City, Colorado’s Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, an 18,061-seat venue with a Kentucky Bluegrass surface, hosts the fixture.
This is the fourth all-time meeting between the two nations, with the USMNT claiming the most recent result in a 2010 friendly (3-1). Ranked 25th internationally by FIFA, Australia secured qualification to the 2026 World Cup by finishing at second place in the Asian Football Confederation’s Group C with a 5-1-4 record, racking up the necessary points against Bahrain (0-1, 2-2), Indonesia (0-0, 5-1), China (3-1, 2-0), Japan (1-1, 1-0), and Saudi Arabia (0-0, 2-1). In recent months, the Socceroos defeated New Zealand in the Soccer Ashes (1-0, 3-1) and claimed a victory over Canada in a friendly (1-0).
After Graham Arnold stepped down amidst a soft start to qualifying, Tony Popovic was appointed to the manager role, described as “the best possible candidate” for the job; that faith has been repaid with an 11-match unbeaten streak. The 52-year-old retired centre-back amassed 58 caps for Australia before entering the technical box, with stints at Western Sydney Wanderers, Turkey’s Karabükspor, Perth Glory, Xanthi in Greece, and, most recently, Melbourne Victory, claiming two A-League regular season titles, one Australia Cup, the 2014 AFC Champions League, and three A-League Men Coach of the Year awards. Highly concerned with nutrition, he is praised as having “an ability to develop winning teams through his attention to detail, meticulous planning, and [an] ability to harmonise a collective focus.”
Popovic named a 25-player roster for the international window, with eight changes from September’s Soccer Ashes. The entire squad is based abroad, with 20 representatives of European clubs, 3 talents competing in Major League Soccer, and 2 call-ups based in Japan’s J1 League. Notable absences include Aziz Behich, Jackson Irvine, Ryan Teague, Riley McGree, Nishan Velupillay, Samuel Silvera, and Brandon Borrello. Fran Karačić withdrew “for medical reasons” and was replaced by Jacob Italiano.
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GOALKEEPERS (3): Mathew Ryan (Levante), Joe Gauci (Port Vale), Paul Izzo (Randers)
DEFENDERS (9): Miloš Degenek (TSC), Kye Rowles (D.C. United), Jordan Bos (Feyenoord), Cameron Burgess (Swansea City), Lewis Miller (Blackburn Rovers), Jacob Italiano (Grazer AK), Jason Geria (Albirex Niigata), Alessandro Circati (Parma), Hayden Matthews (Portsmouth)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Ajdin Hrustic (Heracles Almelo), Connor Metcalfe (FC St. Pauli), Aiden O’Neill (New York City FC), Patrick Yazbek (Nashville SC), Cameron Devlin (Heart of Midlothian), Max Balard (NAC Breda), Alexander Robertson (Cardiff City)
FORWARDS (6): Mitch Duke (Machida Zelvia), Martin Boyle (Hibernian), Daniel Arzani (Ferencváros), Nestory Irankunda (Watford), Mohamed Touré (Randers), Nicholas D’Agostino (Viking)
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Popovic has deployed a “dynamic” 3-4-2-1 formation that looks for “fast passes between the lines” and “good counter-pressing situations when losing the ball.” He is constantly reshaping the squad with “player adjustments over changing the gameplan,” switching “the job description based on the game” and relying on a fluid group of attackers. The wingbacks take a very advanced position up the field that helps the team “exploit the space out wide” and jump-start the counter.
After initially going with Joe Gauci, Popovic switched to Mathew Ryan and relied on the veteran to be his number one through the back half of the third round of qualifying. The 33-year-old Levante goalkeeper was the starter at multiple World Cups and is closing in on becoming the program’s all-time leader in appearances with a composed shot-stopping style. Standing around six feet tall, he generally stays close to his line and has a tendency to parry away the ball instead of forcing himself to make catches. Despite being a tad undersized for the position, his work on crosses is more than adequate, willing to chase down lower-percentage chances and swat them away from the intended recipient with an extended arm.
Scotland-born Cameron Burgess clawed his way up the England pyramid, made the Premier League with Ipswich Town, and will be keeping his place in the top flight after signing with Swansea. Standing above six feet, four inches tall, he is strong in the air and capable of holding down the fort when parking the bus, registering a steady stream of clearances, emergency tackles, and shot blocks. Hailing from Croatia and once a part of the Serbia youth set-up, Miloš Degenek has a good read on the run of play and manages to arrive in danger areas before the opponent can advance or get off a shot. The 31-year-old TSC centre-back constantly sacrifices his body with diving stops, wins his fair share of headers, and will thunder his way through attempted challenges, rumbling and stumbling through contact. Albirex Niigata’s Jason Geria made his senior international debut in 2016 but was forced to wait over eight years for his next appearance, becoming a favorite of the manager in the hybrid role. Observers note that his “underrated technical ability allows for a more fluid build-up,” along with accurate passing, strength in one-on-one situations, and the “overlapping runs and crosses down the wing.” Former Italy youth international Alessandro Circati brings a “formidable presence” on the field, having rebounded with “strong form” and a “rapid seven-month recovery” after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament. The watchword for his game is impact, marked by a steady stream of recoveries as the tall figure stakes a spot in the middle of the action and claims everything that enters into his area.
Feyenoord’s Jordan Bos has seen his role reduced due to injury but can be relied upon to “stream down the left flank, pick off passes, win crucial 50-50s,” and regain possession with inexorable tenacity. He is a “very technically gifted player” and “covers a lot of ground” while also managing to smartly shield away opponents and use his body to create space and draw fouls. Described as “the unlikely face of Popovic’s Socceroos revamp,” Lewis Miller of Blackburn Rovers rebounded from a dismal showing at last year’s AFC Asian Cup by becoming “a player [with] a lot of end product.” Managers describe him as “involved in most of the goals,” showcasing appealing “physical and technical attributes” when sprinting up and down the touchline before serving a perfect pass. Kye Rowles of D.C. United is praised for his “good defensive instincts” and skill when working out of the back, also displaying good speed and shutdowns of wingers. In addition to being comfortable stepping up and meeting the danger with disruptive intentions, his “anticipation and positioning” are at times “tremendous” with several momentum-shifting interceptions per match.
Aiden O’Neill provides cover in front of the back line with a “high work rate,” operating as a “disruptor” who is “all about the collective” and combines well with teammates. The 27-year-old New York City FC six-eight has a stable game by calming down proceedings with his avoidance of pressure but will also step into the box and drill the occasional shot. Nashville SC’s Patrick Yazbek is another versatile option with a high rate of passing accuracy and a keen sense of ball movement, particularly when jump-starting transition or opening up the final third. He provides connections all around the field, whether dropping deep to serve as an outlet for the back line or even stepping into an advanced role and operating as an additional forward who runs into space. Ajdin Hrustic of Heracles Almelo is seeking to reestablish himself in the squad following injury struggles and some lean seasons in Europe, with the “dead-ball specialist” adding “that little bit of X-factor” through his “great left foot.” His quick moves and curling, dipping distribution are particularly useful when proceedings become cagey, to say nothing of his long-range shooting from the run of play and free kicks.
Martin Boyle is coming off a career-best season with Hibernian, contributing a superlative 20 goals and 11 assists in 44 matches and cementing his status as a “modern-day [club] legend.” Whether finishing or setting the table, he swoops in from the wing and operates in the central areas, using his speed to break behind the opposing back line, drilling shots from distance, and getting onto the end of crosses. FC St. Pauli’s Connor Metcalfe was out for almost six months due to osteitis pubis but returned in a massive way with starts against Japan and Saudi Arabia, finding the back of the net in the latter fixture. Breaking the Lines notes the importance of his progressive runs and solo advancement, while Breaking the Block suggests a versatility and a defensive work rate that are revealed from the build-up. Tanzania-born Nestory Irankunda is one of the program’s great hopes for the future, described as a “physical phenomenon” with “extreme agility and speed over distance” and a willingness to put in the defensive work. The 19-year-old Watford winger has a rocket of a right leg and is comfortable finishing from all angles and can also step into a creative role, with the vision to spot and reach teammates despite being in the midst of a slaloming run.
“One of Australia’s most reliable, industrious, and popular” players, Mitchell “Mitch” Duke was dropped from the squad amidst a lack of production but cemented his return with a goal and an assist in the final qualifier against Saudi Arabia. The 34-year-old Machida Zelvia striker “struggled for significant [playing time]” in the J1 League last season but brings a tireless work ethic even when failing to score. Standing at six feet tall, he is something of a target striker with the requisite space interpretation and a willingness to lay off a pass to a teammate after settling the ball in traffic. His finishes typically come from close range: converting crosses, through balls, and set pieces with a single touch, utilizing his timing and positioning to redirect headers with minimal jumping. Randers’ Mohamed Touré was the star of the Soccer Ashes with two goals and an assist across the two matches, showcasing his impressive speed and ability to step back in order to serve as a creator. The Conakry-born forward times his runs extremely well, whether curling along the opposing back line before sprinting into free areas or delaying his entry by a crucial second for the best positioning on a centering pass.
Avoiding the locked-in schedule of qualifying, the USMNT has enjoyed the opportunity to branch out and face off against opponents outside of the usual fare. In some ways, the two programs and domestic soccer scenes have similar profiles, yet their respective pathways and recent histories are dissimilar. Australia should provide a unique challenge and perhaps an early preview into next summer’s World Cup, if fate chooses to draw these foes together again.
The match is scheduled for Tuesday, October 14th at 9:00 p.m. Eastern, 6:00 p.m. Pacific. Viewing options include TNT, Max, Universo, Peacock, and FUBO TV (free trial).
