The U.S. Men's National Team (USMNT) is set to host friendlies against Ecuador and Australia in October as part of their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which they will co-host with Canada and Mexico. These matches will provide valuable opportunities for the USMNT to compete against World Cup-bound teams.
The USMNT will first face Ecuador on October 10 at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas. The match is scheduled to kick off at 8:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. local time) and will be broadcast on TNT, truTV, HBO Max, Universo, and Peacock. As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, U.S. Soccer will honor the Hispanic community and their support for the U.S. team. The USMNT and Ecuador have a balanced history, with each side having a record of 5 wins, 5 losses, and 5 draws in their 15 previous encounters. Their most recent meeting was in 2016 when the U.S. eliminated Ecuador in the Copa América Centenario quarterfinals.
Four days later, on October 14, the USMNT will host Australia in Commerce City, Colorado, marking their return to the city since 2017. The match against the Socceroos will take place at DICK'S Sporting Goods Park, with kickoff scheduled for 9 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local time). The game will be broadcast live on TNT, HBO Max, Universo, and Peacock. The USMNT has a positive record at DICK'S Sporting Goods Park, with 3 wins and no losses. The USMNT last played Australia in 2010, winning 3-1 in a friendly ahead of the World Cup in South Africa. The all-time record between the two nations is evenly split, with one win each and one draw.
These October friendlies are part of a series of matches against strong competition to prepare the USMNT for the 2026 World Cup. In September 2025, the team will also face South Korea and Japan. With all four matches taking place during FIFA windows, coach Mauricio Pochettino might have his full-strength squad available.
These matches are considered important for assessing progress, pushing boundaries, and igniting the competitive fire on the international stage. The USMNT, currently ranked No. 15 in the world, will be tested against Ecuador and Australia, ranked No. 25 and No. 24, respectively. Both Ecuador and Australia have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup.
