USA Faces Australia Without Injured Pulisic, Kickoff Time Disputed
5 verified2 unconfirmed1 contested
The United States faces Australia in a critical Group D match at the 2026 World Cup on Friday, with both teams coming off opening victories. The USMNT defeated Paraguay 4-1, while Australia upset Turkiye 2-0. A win for either side guarantees a spot in the Round of 32. Christian Pulisic has been ruled out due to a calf injury he aggravated during the Paraguay match. Reports differ on the kickoff time, with some stating 3 p.m. ET and others 9 p.m. ET. The match also carries implications for the Unofficial Football World Championship, which Australia currently holds.
What’s verified
The United States beat Paraguay 4-1 in its opening match.
Australia beat Turkiye 2-0 in its opening match.
Christian Pulisic has been ruled out of the Australia match due to a calf injury.
A win for either side would secure a spot in the Round of 32.
Mauricio Pochettino is the head coach of the USMNT.
Where accounts differ
The kickoff time for the match is reported differently across sources. Some report the match at 3 p.m. ET, while another reports it at 9 p.m. ET. The location is consistently reported as Seattle.
Not yet confirmed
One source reports that Australia currently holds the Unofficial Football World Championship (UFWC), and the United States can win it by defeating Australia. This claim is not confirmed by other sources.
One source includes detailed statements from players and coaches about Pulisic’s injury status, including quotes from Tim Weah and Tyler Adams that are not repeated elsewhere.
Key figures
Christian Pulisic (USMNT forward, injured)
Mauricio Pochettino (USMNT head coach)
Tyler Adams (USMNT midfielder)
Tim Weah (USMNT winger)
Jon Eimer (SportsLine betting expert)
Martin Green (SportsLine soccer expert)
Sources: CBS Sports, sbnation.com
