U.S. Men’s National Team Faces Australia in World Cup Match Without Christian Pulisic

Updated June 19, 2026, 3:53 PM EDT By NBC News

The U.S. men’s national soccer team began its World Cup journey with a strong performance by defeating Paraguay 4-1. Despite this success, Christian Pulisic’s absence due to a calf injury has raised concerns as he remains out for today’s match against Australia.

World Cup Details

The match between the U.S. and Australia kicked off with pressure from the U.S., leading to an own goal by Australia, with the U.S. leading 2-0 at halftime. Other matches slated for today include Scotland vs. Morocco, Brazil vs. Haiti, and Turkey vs. Paraguay. These games are available on Telemundo and Peacock. A daily newsletter, The Sports Desk, offers summaries and analysis.

Game Highlights and Incidents

Seven minutes of stoppage time were added at the end of the first half. During the 43rd minute, Alex Freeman’s goal was confirmed after a replay overturned an offside call. Minutes before scoring, Freeman was involved in a collision, but he continued to play.

Freeman, who is the son of former NFL wide receiver Antonio Freeman, started with the U.S. men’s team in 2025. Australia’s Alessandro Circati received a yellow card for tripping U.S. player Malik Tillman.

Despite missing Pulisic, the U.S. led 1-0 early in the game due to an own goal by Australia’s Cameron Burgess. The U.S. has forced five own goals in its World Cup history, ranking second only to France.

The U.S. has made a few unforced errors, allowing Australia near the U.S. goal; however, goalkeeper Matt Freese remained attentive.

Team Dynamics and Player Updates

In Pulisic’s absence, Ricardo Pepi stepped in for a challenging game against Australia. Mauricio Pochettino, U.S. coach, expressed hope for Pulisic’s quick recovery as the team faces a challenging opponent.

Pre-Match Expectations

Trysta Krick and Jay Croucher predicted the U.S. would dominate Australia in their Group D matchup, expressing confidence in an overwhelming U.S. performance.

Australia’s Strategy and Challenges

Australia’s coach Tony Popovic acknowledged the challenge of facing the U.S. at home and emphasized the need to elevate their game beyond their initial victory over Turkey. Australia defeated Turkey 2-0 by exploiting counter-attacks effectively, but they recognize the need for an improved strategy against a confident U.S. team.

Fan Experience and Concerns

Amid World Cup excitement, some fans faced issues with tickets acquired through resale platforms like StubHub, as reported by NBC News. Although refunds were issued, the inconvenience affected travel plans for many.

Injury Shadows Canada’s Triumph

Canada celebrated its historic World Cup win yesterday, albeit overshadowed by Ismaël Koné’s broken leg during their match against Qatar. The injury, which drew immediate attention from Canada’s coach Jesse Marsch, dampened the mood despite Canada’s 6-0 victory.