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Sport | Football
Christian Pulisic remains a doubt for the United States against Australia tonight.
USA began their World Cup 2026 campaign in perfect fashion, demolishing Paraguay 4-1 in Los Angeles as former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun scored twice.
The only negative was Pulisic having to be withdrawn at half-time with a calf strain and has been training separately ahead of the Group D showdown, leaving Mauricio Pochettino weighing up whether to risk the forward.
“Yes, I think as you know he was training in an individual way the whole week, but like always I think tonight or the day before the game we have a meeting with our medical area and we will assess the whole group, the players and tomorrow we will communicate this and see,” the USMNT boss said.
“All the things that can agree tonight. He’s evolving, he’s much better from Friday. We’ll see.
“I think at the moment we’ll see if he’s not available for tomorrow, or will be available for the next game.
“I think he’s doing a massive effort trying to be ready. I think for every single player that loves that country.
“It’s an amazing opportunity to enjoy and to help the team to perform and to win games.
“When this type of thing happens it’s painful but I think Christian is strong and with a great mentality and is doing a fantastic effort to try to be ready as soon as possible.”
As for Tony Popovic’s Socceroos, they are likely to keep the same side that stunned Turkey in their first game, beating the heavily-fancied dark horses 2-0.
Watford’s Nestory Irankunda is their star man off the left flank, and he netted a stunner in the opening game.
The man on the opposite flank, workhorse Conor Metcalfe, will also be retained,
The Aussies’ back five against Turkey remained resolute, and that was in part down to centre-backs Harry Souttar and Cameron Burgess, who are well-known names in the EFL.
Jordan Bos and Jacob Italiano both have licence to maraud forward and maintain width as wing-backs when Irankunda and Metcalfe move inside.
Predicted USA XI (4-2-3-1): Reese; Freeman, Richards, Ream, Robinson; Adams, Tillman; Dest, McKennie, Reyna; Balogun
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Doubt: Pulisic
Predicted Australia XI (5-4-1): Beach; Italiano, Circati, Souttar, Burgess, Bos; Metcalfe, O’Neill, Okon-Engstler, Irankunda; Toure
Date and time: 8pm BST on Friday, June 19 2026
Venue: Seattle Stadium
How to watch: BBC
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