Socceroos vs USA 2026 World Cup match thread 🇦🇺 🇺🇸

[socceroosmad]

Matt Olsen on Round Ball Australia:"That USA game is going to get insanely insanely fiery"

 

[Pasquali]

 

[JS96]

The USA sees Australia as inferior so their players will likely be confident and risk takers. Germany toyed with them yesterday. The USA have pace and if we're one step off we'll be at risk. We need to target their weaknesses big time.

 

[Pasquali]

The USA sees Australia as inferior so their players will likely be confident and risk takers. Germany toyed with them yesterday. The USA have pace and if we're one step off we'll be at risk. We need to target their weaknesses big time.

I'm sure Popa studied the hell out of the Belgium game

 

[SWP66]

I'm at the match in Seattle...looking forward to wearing this around town the next day

 

[HonestSpursFan]

I think people in footballing countries and regions judge American soccer as being “shit” based on a few viral videos of two things:

1. Bad “fan culture” (e.g. “it’s called soccer” or “I believe that we will win” chants or corny banners) as opposed to Europe’s fan culture with sold-out stadiums, flares, pyro, banners, tifos, loud chants, hooligans, etc
2. People online with “negative ball knowledge” (e.g. American “fans” and “pundits” comparing Christian Pulišić to various greats or calling him the “LeBron James of soccer”), as opposed to European fans who only watch football and pundits who used to play at the highest level and who constantly talk about the best players and the best clubs/leagues in the world

While a lot of those videos are quite funny and show that many Americans are cringe, in reality they don’t represent all or even most American fans nor the American culture in the sport. It may be corporate at the highest level because it’s America (though English football is also quite corporate in many ways because of the global interest in it and the large revenue it generates) but there is some genuinely good fan culture in the US and they do have genuinely good players playing in top leagues.

Does it compare to Europe or South America? Fuck no. Christian Pulišić wouldn’t even make the bench for any of the favourites to win the World Cup. But he does play for AC Milan and used to play for Borussia Dortmund and later Chelsea, all top clubs in Europe. As for the fan culture, obviously it’s not as good as Europe given the restrictions on pyro, flares, etc (these are also banned in England) and the fact that it’s not the main sport, but the support is definitely there. America is also very big and, like Australia, very diverse. For example, Hispanics (who come from countries where soccer and baseball are the main sports, not gridiron and basketball) make up 20% of the US population and almost 40% of California’s (and to go even further, almost half of LA and 70% of Miami is Hispanic). Yet these “viral videos” largely ignore that section of support in favour of the casuals who know little about soccer.

 

[state of origin]

I think people in footballing countries and regions judge American soccer as being “shit” based on a few viral videos of two things:

1. Bad “fan culture” (e.g. “it’s called soccer” or “I believe that we will win” chants or corny banners) as opposed to Europe’s fan culture with sold-out stadiums, flares, pyro, banners, tifos, loud chants, hooligans, etc
2. People online with “negative ball knowledge” (e.g. American “fans” and “pundits” comparing Christian Pulišić to various greats or calling him the “LeBron James of soccer”), as opposed to European fans who only watch football and pundits who used to play at the highest level and who constantly talk about the best players and the best clubs/leagues in the world

While a lot of those videos are quite funny and show that many Americans are cringe, in reality they don’t represent all or even most American fans nor the American culture in the sport. It may be corporate at the highest level because it’s America (though English football is also quite corporate in many ways because of the global interest in it and the large revenue it generates) but there is some genuinely good fan culture in the US and they do have genuinely good players playing in top leagues.

Does it compare to Europe or South America? Fuck no. Christian Pulišić wouldn’t even make the bench for any of the favourites to win the World Cup. But he does play for AC Milan and used to play for Borussia Dortmund and later Chelsea, all top clubs in Europe. As for the fan culture, obviously it’s not as good as Europe given the restrictions on pyro, flares, etc (these are also banned in England) and the fact that it’s not the main sport, but the support is definitely there. America is also very big and, like Australia, very diverse. For example, Hispanics (who come from countries where soccer and baseball are the main sports, not gridiron and basketball) make up 20% of the US population and almost 40% of California’s (and to go even further, almost half of LA and 70% of Miami is Hispanic). Yet these “viral videos” largely ignore that section of support in favour of the casuals who know little about soccer.

TBH iI don't care about any of that shit. It's the world cup man. As long as Australia don't lose and I don't have to listen to any of their fuckwit commentators I'll be happy.

 

[patjennings]

If the US sets up like they did against Germany we will have acres of space to run into behind Antonee Robinson and Dest. They both love to get forward They'll end up with six players around the box. Lose the ball and transition quickly and they will be in trouble.

 

[erogenouszone]

Even if we don't get through the group, beating USA would give me enormous satisfaction

The entire world is going to be on our side when we play America....

 

[Mr Cleansheets]

The entire world is going to be on our side when we play America....

With the ironic exceptions of Russia, China and North Korea. They want to encourage their new Little Buddy.

 

[HonestSpursFan]

With the ironic exceptions of Russia, China and North Korea. They want to encourage their new Little Buddy.

You mean East Ukraine, West Taiwan and North South Korea?

 

[Pasquali]

Lets go you lot

 

[New Horizon]

Even if we don't get through the group, beating USA would give me enormous satisfaction

would do anything for win a against the US of A

 

[rebelliousfeminist974]

would do anything for win a against the US of A

Let's hope the Socceroos can lock in and improve on their performance against Turkey next week when we face a more dangerous United States side.

 

[Bbouy]

Let's hope the Socceroos can lock in and improve on their performance against Turkey next week when we face a more dangerous United States side.

It's a good thing the US dominated Paraguay, because now we aren't going into that match underestimating the US. That would be very naive.

 

[JS96]

I anticipate some changes. Geria is better later on in games. USA will be pacey while Turkey were slow and possession based.

Herrington in for Burgess. I'd have Devlin start for Okon and bring Okon and Irvine later.

I'd start Irankunda and maybe bring in Velulpillay or Mabil for Metcalfe foe the first hour. It'll likely be more back and forth.

 

[Alex M]

I anticipate some changes. Geria is better later on in games. USA will be pacey while Turkey were slow and possession based.

Herrington in for Burgess. I'd have Devlin start for Okon and bring Okon and Irvine later.

I'd start Irankunda and maybe bring in Velulpillay or Mabil for Metcalfe foe the first hour. It'll likely be more back and forth.

I don't think Popovic has ever made less than 4 changes to his starting lineups from game to game. He seems to like rotating. Don't be surprised if Ryan comes back in.

 

[verrelli]

The one thing we can be certain of with Popovic is that whatever we're all expecting, it won't be that. Of that, we can be sure.

 

[Pub League Champion]

I don't think Popovic has ever made less than 4 changes to his starting lineups from game to game. He seems to like rotating. Don't be surprised if Ryan comes back in.

Geez I hope not. Beach was outstanding. Never would’ve guessed he’d start but would hate to see him dropped now. We need a shot stopper now, not a keeper who is good with the ball at their feet.

Can’t believe the same I guy I saw for Melbourne City at the start of the season just won us a game at the World Cup.

 

[JS96]

I don't think Popovic has ever made less than 4 changes to his starting lineups from game to game. He seems to like rotating. Don't be surprised if Ryan comes back in.

I don't mind that to be fair. BVM sticking with the same 11 in Russia was painful.