USMNT Hosts Ecuador, Australia in October Friendlies for World Cup Preparation

The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) is set to play two key friendly matches in October 2025 against Ecuador and Australia as part of their preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the U.S. will co-host with Mexico and Canada. The first match will take place on October 10 at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, followed by the second on October 14 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado. Both Ecuador and Australia have already qualified for the tournament and are ranked close to the U.S. in FIFA standings, offering strong competition for the USMNT. These friendlies follow September matches against South Korea and Japan, with additional exhibitions planned for November and March, and send-off matches scheduled for June 2026. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino is using these fixtures to build team cohesion and fine-tune strategies ahead of the tournament. Historically, the USMNT has an even record against both Ecuador and Australia and remains unbeaten at the two upcoming venues, making these matches crucial for momentum and confidence.