USA v Australia LIVE: Christian Pulisic injury update ahead of crunch World Cup 2026 clash

A World Cup, naturally, brings a focus on the sport’s starts – but it could be the 11th name on each teamsheet that is crucial to determining which nation wins it. Richard Jolly on the weak link theory that may be decisive:

It may be that these two have already done enough to progress – Jamie Braidwood explains the permutations that may mean one win is sufficient to reach the round of 32.

Aside from a nasty injury in the Canada game last night, it’s been an excellent start for the three nations co-hosting this World Cup. Mexico booked their spot in the knockout rounds with a strong win against South Korea yesterday while Canada are close to joining them after a 6-0 thrashing of Qatar. Can the USA extend the trio’s unbeaten run to six games?

13 June: USA 4-1 Paraguay – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles

14 June: Australia 2-0 Turkey – BC Place, Vancouver

19 June: USA vs Australia – Lumen Field, Seattle

20 June: Turkey vs Paraguay – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara

26 June: Turkey vs USA – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles

26 June: Paraguay vs Australia – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara

The US may be hoping to foster some of the winning spirit that the usual occupiers of today’s venue managed on their way to the Lombardi Trophy last season. The Seattle Seahawks are the reigning kings of the NFL and their Lumen Field is a facility befitting that status, sitting between the docks and downtown in the city.

It was an impressive first showing from the United States, with Mauricio Pochettino – who had faced plenty of criticism ahead of the tournament – producing a clever tactical plan to dismantle Paraguay – as Adam Clery explains.

And on the note of off-field issues at this World Cup, Iran are set to lodge an official complaint with Fifa over their travel restrictions.

Wondering how state power has impacted football over the last 25 years? Miguel Delaney is something of an expert on the subject after writing the award-winning States of Play last year. It is now out in paperback form – and you can win a copy!

Off-pitch politics have dominated the build-up to and start of this World Cup, which has rather hidden the fact that it is a more multinational competition than ever before. Miguel Delaney explains the irony at the heart of a tournament indelibly linked to Trump.