Co-hosts United States face Australia in a Group D fixture at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday 19 June 2026. The match is played at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, with the USMNT chasing a positive home-tournament start.
What is the FIFA World Cup 2026?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the 23rd edition of the men’s tournament and the first to feature 48 teams. The format features 12 groups of four, with the top two from each and the eight best third-placed sides qualifying for the round of 32. The tournament runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026 across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
When is Australia vs United States?
The match kicks off on Friday 19 June 2026 at noon Pacific Time in Seattle, which is 8pm in the United Kingdom. The game falls in the early part of the group stage and is the USMNT’s second match of the tournament.
Where is Australia vs United States?
The game is held at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. Home to the Seattle Sounders and the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, it has a capacity of around 69,000 for football. Lumen Field is one of the loudest stadiums in North American sport and hosts multiple World Cup matches including group and knockout fixtures.
Key Contenders
The United States qualify automatically as co-hosts and enter the tournament under head coach Mauricio Pochettino. Captain Christian Pulisic leads a squad featuring Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Timothy Weah and Folarin Balogun, with the aim of progressing past the last 16 for the first time since 2002.
Australia return after reaching the round of 16 in Qatar 2022. The Socceroos, under coach Tony Popovic, combine the experience of captain Mathew Ryan and Ajdin Hrustic with forwards such as Kusini Yengi, and are known for their physicality and defensive organisation.
How to Watch
In the UK, the BBC and ITV share live coverage with streams on BBC iPlayer and ITVX. In the United States, Fox Sports carries English-language coverage on Fox or FS1, while Telemundo and Peacock broadcast in Spanish. Canadian rights sit with CTV, TSN and RDS. Australian viewers can follow via SBS and Optus Sport. FIFA+ offers global highlights and streams.
History and Records
The United States and Australia have met several times in friendlies over the years, with results fairly evenly split. This is their first ever meeting at a FIFA World Cup. The USA’s best World Cup finish remains third place in 1930, while Australia have progressed past the group stage twice, in 2006 and 2022.
Tickets and Attendance
All tickets are sold exclusively through FIFA.com and the official FIFA Ticketing platform. Host-nation fixtures, including every USMNT match, are among the most sought-after of the tournament. Resale runs through the FIFA official resale platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Australia vs United States kick off?
Friday 19 June 2026, noon Pacific Time (8pm UK time).
Where is the match being held?
Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington, USA.
How can I watch Australia vs United States?
BBC or ITV in the UK, Fox or Telemundo in the US, SBS or Optus Sport in Australia, and FIFA+ internationally.
Have the USA and Australia met at a World Cup before?
No, this is the first ever World Cup meeting between the sides.