U.S. Men Will Face Top 25-Ranked Australia, Ecuador in October Friendlies
The U.S. Soccer Federation on Monday announced that coach Mauricio Pochettino's squad will face Australia and Ecuador in a pair of October exhibition games. Both matches will be held stateside; the Americans will take on the Ecuadorians Oct. 10 at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas. Four days later, they'll host the Socceroos in the Denver, Colorado suburb of Commerce City.
Combined with the previously announced September friendlies against South Korea and Japan, the U.S. will meet four of FIFA's Top-25-ranked national teams this fall. All four have also already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the U.S. and neighbors Canada and Mexico.
The U.S. still has two more dual-match FIFA fixture windows to fill, in November and next March, before Pochettino names his final 26-player World Cup roster. The Americans are also expected to play a pair of pre-World Cup tuneups before they kick off the main event in Los Angeles on June 12.
No-25 Ecuador, one of three South American nations who have already punched their ticket to the next World Cup, joining Brazil and defending champion Argentina, is led by midfielder Moises Caicedo. Caicedo, who plays for English Premier League club Chelsea, helped the Blues win the FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday. The U.S. and Ecuador have met on 15 previous occasions, with each side posting a record of 5W-5L-5T. The two last met in 2016, when the U.S. eliminated La Tricolor in the quarterfinals of the Copa América Centenario.
The U.S. hasn't faced the 24th-ranked Aussies since way back in 2010, a 3-1 win in South Africa in both countries' final tune-up before that year's World Cup in South Africa.
The trip to Austin marks the sixth time the Americans have visited the Texas capital since 2021. They are a perfect 6-0 there, including last month's 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia in the Concacaf Gold Cup group stage.
The U.S. is also perfect at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, going 3-0 at the home of MLS franchise Colorado Rapids. Seats for the Australia match start at just $35. The get-in price for the Ecuador game is $45, with tickets for both contests on sale to the general public starting on July 18.
Doug McIntyre is a soccer reporter for FOX Sports who has covered United States men's and women's national teams at FIFA World Cups on five continents. Follow him @ ByDougMcIntyre .
recommended
Item 1 of 1 Get more from the FIFA Men's World Cup Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Black America Web
43 minutes ago
- Black America Web
Club World Cup Winners Stunned Over Sharing Stage With President Trump
The FIFA Club World Cup, founded in 2000, held its latest competition on American soil with Chelsea F.C. defeating Paris Saint-Germain F.C. 3-0 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. President Donald Trump was in attendance and met with both cheers and a chorus of jeers, with Chelsea players baffled that Trump hung out with the winners onstage, along with reportedly keeping a trophy for himself. The FIFA Club World Cup concluded on Sunday (July 13) with Chelsea sending shockwaves throughout the global football world by defeating the European champions in PSG. As Chelsea players celebrated the massive upset win, President Trump, alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, handed over the Club World Cup trophy to the winners and was visibly instructed to step aside. Trump refused to do so, much to the confusion of the stars. 'I knew he was going to be here but I didn't know he was going to be on the stand when we lifted the trophy,' Cole Palmer said to PA Media in a post-match interview. Chelsea captain Reece James added, 'They told me that he was going to present the trophy and then exit the stage, and I thought that he was going to exit the stage, but he wanted to stay.' James also said he spoke with Trump but couldn't make out what he was saying fully due to the noise in the arena. 'To be honest it was quite loud. I couldn't hear too much. He just congratulated me and the team for lifting the trophy and told us to enjoy the moment,' James politely stated. It was perhaps not the reception the American president expected, what with boos raining down from the 81,000 in attendance. It wasn't all negative, as some fans stood and cheered for Trump. In another bizarre turn of events, Trump elected to keep the FIFA Club World Cup trophy for himself, with Chelsea receiving a replica. Cole Palmer did receive the Gold Ball for his exploits on the pitch. No word yet if Trump had one given to him by FIFA as well. The Chelsea club won an estimated $114 million in prize money. On X, formerly Twitter, reactions to President Donald Trump joining in the festivities of the FIFA Club World Cup have come in. We've got those reactions listed below. — Photo: Getty Club World Cup Winners Stunned Over Sharing Stage With President Trump was originally published on
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tuesday's briefing: Levi Colwill does not want to stop at world domination
Chelsea defender Levi Colwill is confident the Club World Cup winners will make a major impact at home and in Europe as they look forward to the new season. England's Women are still very much in the think of the action as they prepare for their Euro 2025 showdown with Sweden. Advertisement Meanwhile, 39-year-old Luka Modric has a new club after deciding to extend his illustrious career further. The Blues are back Chelsea beat Paris St Germain 3-0 to lift the Club World Cup (Kevin Lamarque/AP/PA) Levi Colwill insists Chelsea's Club World Cup win was no fluke and the Premier League and Champions League are now in their sights. The Blues defied the odds to beat Paris St Germain 3-0 at the MetLife Stadium on Sunday evening and lift the Club World Cup, providing further evidence of their revival following a difficult few years at Stamford Bridge in the wake of the Todd Boehly-led takeover in 2022. Defender Colwill said: 'Everyone was rooting for PSG or saying they were going to beat us but it's not an upset because we know how good we are. If other people don't believe that, then hopefully we have changed their minds now. Advertisement 'I said at the start of this tournament that our plan was to win it and people looked at me as if I was crazy! So I'm going to say the exact same thing now going into the Premier League and Champions League. I think we're ready and we'll see next season.' Williamson taking nothing for granted England captain Leah Williamson will not under-estimate Euro 2025 quarter-final opponents Sweden (Nick Potts/PA) Leah Williamson is refusing to play down the threat posed by quarter-final opponents Sweden to England's hopes of retaining their European crown. The Lionesses booked Thursday night's Euro 2025 last-eight showdown with the Swedes, who they beat 4-0 in the semi-finals on their way to lifting the title three years ago, with a 6-1 Group D victory over Wales, and captain Williams is not under-estimating the danger they represent. Advertisement She said: 'Sweden are a fantastic team. They're relentless in the way they go about their game. 'They sort of avoid the expectation of every tournament and nobody really talks about them, (which is) slightly disrespectful, I think, because they always show up and they always seem to pose a threat to most teams, and normally come out with a medal or (become) a semi-final team, so, yes, they are a strong team (and) we're looking forward to the fixture.' Luka who's joined AC Milan AC Milan have completed the signing of Croatia captain Luka Modric following his departure from Real Madrid. The 39-year-old former Dinamo Zagreb and Tottenham midfielder has put pen to paper on a one-year contract at the San Siro with the option of an extension for a further 12 months. Advertisement Modric had a trophy-laden 13-year stint at the Bernabeu, during which he claimed four LaLiga titles, six Champions League crowns and five Club World Cups. He won the Ballon d'Or in 2018 and has made a record 188 appearances for his national team. What's on today? England are preparing for Thursday night's Euro 2025 quarter-final against Sweden (Nick Potts/PA) England continue their preparations for Thursday night's Euro 2025 quarter-final clash with Sweden in Zurich. Elsewhere, Welsh champions The New Saints are in action in the second leg of their Champions League first qualifying round tie against Shkendija in North Macedonia, while there are 15 group stage fixtures in Scotland's Premier Sports Cup.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jason Cundy ruins ‘Dave' the Liverpool fan on talkSPORT with one simple put down
Jason Cundy ruins 'Dave' the Liverpool fan on talkSPORT with one simple put down Former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy has ruined 'Dave' the Liverpool fan on talkSPORT this week with one simple put down! Cundy was obviously celebrating Chelsea's big Club World Cup win over PSG this week on one of his review shows alongside Jamie O'Hara. Advertisement Cundy has never been one to back down from saying what he thinks and is a very passionate Chelsea fan after playing for them back in the 90s. Like all of us Chelsea fans, Cundy was soaking up the big win from Sunday night and the success of the whole tournament where three Chelsea players got named in the team of the tournament. And one Sky Sports reporter believes the Club World Cup win has 'made Chelsea great again' in some big claims this week. Cundy enjoying the win Make no mistake, Cundy, like all of us Chelsea fans, ais going to make sure we make the most of winning this trophy for the next four years when the competition is played again. Advertisement Chelsea are World Champions for at least another four years, and you can bet we are going to make sure that every team we play against from now until then are going to be reminded of this! Why not, eh!? Jason Cundy speaks on talkSPORT. Cundy ruins Liverpool fan! On his show this week, as seen in the short clip here on X, Cundy is seen in hysterics as he reminds a Liverpool fan that it was actually PSG who knocked them out of the Champions League this season after Chelsea beat them in the Club World Cup final! Cundy tells Dave the Liverpool fan, 'just say well done Chelsea, that's all you got to say, I said well done Liverpool (for winning the league).' Then Dave mentions PSG and Cundy says, 'didn't they knock you out of the Champions League?' Dave goes very quiet and you just see Cundy and O'Hara in hysterics laughing at him! Brilliant stuff!
