United States coach Mauricio Pochettino is set to make adjustments to his lineup for Tuesday’s friendly against Australia, as the Socceroos look to extend their remarkable 12-match unbeaten streak under coach Tony Popovic.
After a 1-1 draw with Ecuador in Austin, Texas, Pochettino admitted that some players were fatigued and may not be risked for the high-altitude clash in Denver. The coach emphasized the need to adapt to the different conditions at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, which sits over 5,200 feet above sea level.
“We need to pay attention to the change from Austin to Denver,” Pochettino said after Monday’s training session. “The conditions are completely different. It’s a good opportunity to improve and maybe try different approaches to the game… For sure, there are going to be changes, and maybe change the shape.”
Christian Pulisic, who had some swelling in his ankle before the Ecuador match, will be available for selection after training on Monday. However, left-back Antonee Robinson remains sidelined due to a lingering knee issue.
Australia, on the other hand, enters the match full of confidence after a 1-0 win over Canada in Montreal. Under Popovic, the Socceroos have remained unbeaten since his appointment a year ago and qualified for the 2026 World Cup earlier this year. Popovic has insisted that every friendly is important, as his team seeks to keep their momentum going.
“We want to win every game,” Popovic said. “It’s always easy to say results don’t matter in friendlies, but we want to keep our run going. We know it will be difficult, and that’s why we’ve taken on this game.”
The U.S. faces a tough challenge against a determined Australia side, and both teams are prepared to face the physical demands of playing at altitude.
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