The U.S. Men’s National Team walked into Friday’s World Cup matchup against Australia knowing a win punches their ticket to the knockout stage. They’ll have to do it without Christian Pulisic.
The team confirmed Thursday that Pulisic is out with a calf injury. No timeline yet on how long he’ll be sidelined, but it’s a significant loss for a USMNT side that relies on him to create chances out of nothing. He’s their most dangerous player on the ball and the guy opponents game-plan around.
Both teams won their opening matches. The U.S. handled Paraguay 2-0, while Australia beat Turkiye 1-0 in a tight, grinding game. So this group is wide open, and Friday’s winner essentially locks up a spot in the Round of 16. Depending on the result in the other Group D match later tonight, the winner could also grab the top seed and avoid a potential early date with a group winner from the other side of the bracket.
Who steps up for the U.S.?
Without Pulisic, the attacking load falls on guys like Timothy Weah, Yunus Musah, and Folarin Balogun. Weah had a strong opening game — he was direct, took defenders on, and looked dangerous cutting inside from the right. Musah is probably the most dynamic midfielder the U.S. has in terms of carrying the ball through pressure. If he can draw fouls in dangerous areas, the Americans might find set-piece opportunities against an Australian side that can be vulnerable in the air.
Defensively, the U.S. back line looked solid against Paraguay. Antonee Robinson got forward well from left back, and Chris Richards was sharp in the middle. Australia will test them differently though. The Socceroos play more direct, they’re physical, and they’ll look to win second balls in the attacking third.
Australia’s path to the knockout stage
Australia isn’t flashy, but they’re organized and disciplined. Their midfield, led by Jackson Irvine and Keanu Baccus, doesn’t give up much space. Against Turkiye, they absorbed pressure for long stretches and hit on the counter. That’s probably the blueprint again Friday: sit deep, force the U.S. to try to break them down without Pulisic’s creativity, and hope for a set-piece goal or a transition chance on a turnover.
Fans online have pointed out that Australia’s fullbacks might struggle if Weah and Gio Reyna (assuming he starts) isolate them one-on-one. The U.S. should have the edge in individual quality. But World Cup games in tight groups often come down to who makes fewer mistakes.
Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. Eastern. The U.S. has never beaten Australia in a World Cup match — they drew in 2010 and lost in 2006. History aside, this is the biggest group stage game the USMNT has played in years.
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