The World Cup hype train rolls into Seattle. Kickoff is close. After dismantling Paraguay 4-1, the U.S. Men’s National Team faces Australia on Friday, June 19, at Lumen Field. It’s the second round of Group D. Expect noise. The match starts at 1 p.m. MT (2 p.m. CT).
Folarin Balogun is flying high after bagging a brace in the opener. But the real story is Christian Pulisic’s calf. He took a nasty kick and sat out the second half against Paraguay. He is expected to play, but whether he can actually run is another question. Australia is no pushover. They blanked Turkey 2-0 in their opener. These teams last met in an October 2025 friendly, where the Americans scraped by with a 2-1 win. This won’t be friendly.
If you want to watch, turn on FOX, stream it on Peacock, or catch the Spanish broadcast on Telemundo. Fubo TV also has the feed.
Expect Matt Freese in goal. The backline should feature Tim Ream, Tyler Adams, and Alex Freeman. Antonee Robinson, Malik Tillman, Weston McKennie, and Sergiño Dest will clog the midfield. Up front, it is Pulisic and Balogun.
Vegas likes the Americans at -165. A draw sits at +330, while an Australian upset is priced at +450. The pundits expect goals. USA Today predicts a 3-1 American victory. Yahoo Sports thinks the U.S. wins but concedes. NBC Sports expects a tight 2-1 battle. Seattle will be rocking. Let’s see if they deliver.
