![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Instead, the 52-year-old is determined to let his teams\u2019 efforts on the pitch do the talking.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that by our performances we can put Australian football on the world map and that\u2019s what we aim to do,\u201d Popovic told reporters in Seattle.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe started off well against T\u00fcrkiye winning, now we want to back it up and we\u2019ll continue striving to do that to improve our football and improve our standing in how people perceive Australian football.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not through words, it\u2019s through what we do on the pitch and tomorrow\u2019s another opportunity to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Head coach Tony Popovic of Australia smiles during a press conference one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and AustraliaSource: AFP<\/p>\n
Despite all the trash talk from their pundits, the Americans are set to be testing opponents for Popovic\u2019s young Socceroos.<\/p>\n
The tournament co-hosts made a mighty statement in their first up 4-1 victory against Paraguay in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n
In particular, they blew away their South American opponents in a powerful first half with three goals, all coming off the back of blistering pace to get in behind the Paraguay defence.<\/p>\n
Popovic is well aware of the challenge that awaits, however.<\/p>\n
\u201cDifferent challenges, different teams. T\u00fcrkiye were more European style in terms of their technical build up, slower build up, fantastic possession. I think the US team has a good mix of the two, very powerful, very athletic,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we know (it will be a) different type of challenge. Playing the host nation here as well is a wonderful challenge but also a wonderful opportunity for us and we know that we need to be better than we were against T\u00fcrkiye to get the result we want.\u201d<\/p>\n
Popovic also gave the nation the reassuring news that \u201ceveryone is fit and available\u201d after striker Mohamed Tour\u00e9 suffered cramp shortly before being subbed off against T\u00fcrkiye.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in the opposite camp, doubt continues to remain about American star Cristian Pulisic, who was subbed off at half time against Paraguay with a calf issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think as you know he was training individually all week,\u201d Pochettino told reporters before Popovic\u2019s press conference. <\/p>\n
\u201cLike always, I think tonight or the day before the game we have a meeting with our medical area, we will assess the whole group, and tomorrow we will communicate if we agree on something tonight. He is evolving, he is much better from Friday, we\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pochettino quiet on Pulisic fitness | 01:11<\/p>\n
Speaking of evolution, Popovic was full of praise for how his group of players have grown over time. <\/p>\n
He took over the role from Graham Arnold in the middle of the qualifying campaign in 2024 and is proud by the development he has overseen.<\/p>\n
And the T\u00fcrkiye victory was the culmination of all that work.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn terms of where we started this journey together, and we\u2019ve seen the evolution of the team, the growth of the team; we\u2019ve seen players maturing individually, but also being able to add collectively as one,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just been building.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was a game that it all came together in terms of the belief being present in the moment, understanding it\u2019s a World Cup for a lot of the boys for the first time, but playing as if they belong there. We\u2019ll need that again tomorrow. It\u2019s a wonderful opportunity for us. I wouldn\u2019t say in terms of thinking about too far ahead. I think the opportunity for us is to get another win.\u201d<\/p>\n
READ MORE<\/p>\n
\ufeff\u2018Absolutely mental\u2019: Inside wild night Guus got it wrong for once… and ref made even worse blunder<\/a><\/p>\n \ufeff\u2018Would\u2019ve killed somebody\u2019: US star\u2019s blow-up set to reignite \u2018heated\u2019 Aussie rivalry<\/a><\/p>\n \ufeff\u2018I was angry\u2019: Socceroos great opens up on \u2018heartbreaking\u2019 World Cup incident<\/a><\/p>\n Socceroos prepare for epic USA clash | 04:04<\/p>\n The other talking point leading into Saturday morning\u2019s clash was the two nations\u2019 fiery clash in a friendly in Denver last year.<\/p>\n The USA won that encounter 2-1 but three of Australia\u2019s starting XI from that game – Martin Boyle, Nick D\u2019Agostino and Max Balard – did not even make the World Cup squad.<\/p>\n Despite defeat on that day and several scuffles, Popovic said the encounter served its purpose.<\/p>\n \u201cWe wanted to experience playing in the US. We experienced playing at altitude. We tested ourselves with travel. For us, I can only speak for us, we got what we wanted out of that game,\u201d Popovic said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had a fantastic hit out against a very good opponent. So, we were very pleased with that.<\/p>\n \u201cSince then we feel we\u2019ve improved. We\u2019re a better team now than what we were in October and I\u2019m sure the US is as well.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, it should be a really good game tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n Another important tune-up was Australia\u2019s final pre-World Cup against Switzerland in San Diego.<\/p>\n They kicked off at 5am Australian day to prepare for doing the same against the Americans after playing in the evening Vancouver – 2pm AEST – against T\u00fcrkiye. <\/p>\n \u201cIt was a great dress rehearsal,\u201d Popovic said.<\/p>\n \u201cI think both games were. The Mexico game playing in front of almost 80,000 people, everyone against you in the stadium, so that was a good little test for us.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Switzerland game, playing at 12, we tested logistically how that would look for us ahead of this match.<\/p>\n \u201cWe got some learnings from that and we put them in place for this game.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re confident that we\u2019ll be ready for kick off tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n “It’s the biggest honour of my career” | 00:30<\/p>\n \u2018BIGGEST HONOUR OF MY CAREER\u2019<\/p>\n Socceroos captain Harry Souttar has reflected on what it means to be him to lead the nation.<\/p>\n Many Australians were stunned when regular skipper Mat Ryan was demoted to the bench against T\u00fcrkiye and Souttar donned the captain\u2019s armband as he did against Switzerland.<\/p>\n The Leicester City defender had hardly played in the last two years due to an Achilles injury and it marked a stunning effort to get back from the World Cup.<\/p>\n \u201cI think I said after the game, it was the biggest honour of my career,\u201d Souttar said.<\/p>\n \u201cTo follow in the footsteps of Maty Ryan, who I regard as the best captain I\u2019ve ever played for in terms of what he does on the pitch and off the pitch with the lads (is a big honour).<\/p>\n \u201cSo, obviously tor me to take some of that from him, little bits of knowledge and just try and do it my own way.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously everyone is different, whether you speak more or speak less, you can be a leader by action.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s different ways of doing it, but like I said, certainly the biggest honour of my career.\u201d<\/p>\n Harry Souttar #19 of Australia speaks to the media during a press conference one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and AustraliaSource: AFP<\/p>\n Souttar is certainly an inspirational leader on the pitch and that helps fuel his teammates\u2019 growing confidence.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s a short term thing. I think it takes a long time to grow that belief,\u201d Souttar said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut certainly being in camp since the start of May, every training session has gotten better. The standard has gotten better.<\/p>\n \u201cThe two friendlies were great for us in terms of different challenges that we faced, two different sides. There\u2019s obviously stuff said about our start in one of the games and our reaction to it, and it\u2019s how do we balance that, how do we start the game better?<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just looking around the dressing room and looking beside you. You\u2019re walking into the pitch room and seeing the effects that we\u2019ve got on our team. We\u2019ve got some really exciting players, some young, hungry players, and a mix of that experience as well. So when you blend that together, it\u2019s a mix of a good start and a good end.\u201d<\/p>\n ‘TREMENDOUS’ Alvarez save for Mexico | 00:28<\/p>\n US COACH PRAISES AUSSIES<\/p>\n USA coach Mauricio Pochettino has gone for a polar opposite approach to many American pundits by praising Tony Popovic\u2019s Socceroos.<\/p>\n Speaking to the media less than 24 hours before kick off, the former Tottenham and Chelsea manager said \u201cI really appreciate him\u201d when talking about Popovic and added that he likes the only man to play for and coach the Socceroos at a World Cup as a person.<\/p>\n Popovic returned the flattery in his press conference shortly after.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve known the manager for a while. I don\u2019t know him personally, but certainly someone I followed back when he was at Southampton when I was in the UK,\u201d the Socceroos boss.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I already had an eye on him and the great work that he did there. It\u2019s not surprising the career he\u2019s had. I think the US national team has definitely got a winner in terms of Mr. Pochettino.\u201d<\/p>\n Pochettino\u2019s comments stand in stark contrast to much of the barbs that have been thrown Australia\u2019s way out of the US before the tournament and since the Socceroos defeated T\u00fcrkiye 2-0 on Sunday.<\/p>\n The Argentine manager instead kept it classy.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I can say about Australia is that way they play, for me is the mentality,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are a really strong team, really believing in what they are doing.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we play again, them (in) Denver, it\u2019s really one of the most difficult games that we play.. until today. Plenty of good things that they do very well. But I think so, I think again, Turkey really saw the capacity to defend in medium block, in low block, in go to press, press high, transition. (Players) that are so fast, building in different ways, go back with three and two, with four and one, and I see a difference with flexibility in the way to play.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is made difficult to prepare the game against Australia because they have different registers of play. But for me the most important thing is how we need to match their\u2026that mentality and so that make them very natural.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause for me we need to believe in the same way that they believe if we want to compete because they compete with us.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/p>\n WC LIVE \u2014 World Cup rocked by horrific injury as red card drama erupts; co-hosts\u2019 stunning statement<\/a><\/p>\n WC DAILY \u2014 Kiwi social media star secures big club move; coach\u2019s \u2018only the grass is football\u2019 dig<\/a><\/p>\n