USMNT World Cup Roster: Wright, Roldan’s Impact – ESPN

COMMERCE CITY, Colorado — Wright, competing for Coventry City, accounted for all the USA’s goals to ensure a 2-1 victory over the Australian team on Tuesday evening.

The brace from the striker allowed the home side to rally after Jordan Bos had scored in the 19th minute, both of Wright’s goals were created by midfielder Cristian Roldan.

The U.S. team’s win makes it three games without defeat, for Australia their 11-game run under the stewardship of Tony Popovic concludes. Following going behind, it’s Mauricio Pochettino’s first victory in nine games.

Jeff Carlisle and Joey Lynch analyze the game’s key aspects.

– As it happened: Wright inspires USMNT past Socceroos
– Pulisic subbed off early in USMNT friendly with Australia
– 2026 World Cup: Who has qualified, and how the rest can make it

1. The striker role is still up for grabs, Wright shows

Balogun’s goals in his previous two appearances for the U.S. suggested that he was becoming the preferred option for the striker position. Pochettino’s choice to give Wright the starting role instead of Balogun seemed questionable. Wright hadn’t been in the starting eleven for the U.S. since a game against New Zealand in September 2024.

The decision turned out brilliantly, with Wright scoring two goals, though his impact wasn’t immediately apparent. Initially, Wright appeared uncertain and seemed hesitant to utilize the space behind Australia’s defensive line.

Wright persisted, eventually connecting with a Roldan pass in the 33rd minute and scoring with his right foot, beating Australian goalkeeper Mathew Ryan. Then, six minutes into the second half, he chased another Roldan pass, skillfully evaded defender Cameron Burgess, and curved his shot past Ryan and into the Australian net.

Balogun is still the frontrunner for the starting position if the World Cup were held tomorrow, but Wright’s goals keep him in contention and significantly improve his prospects of being selected for the U.S. World Cup squad. — Carlisle

2. The Socceroos’ Unbeaten Streak Comes to an End

It was an inevitability. For the first time under Popovic, the Socceroos experienced defeat, ending their 11-game unbeaten streak that began with his initial game in charge last September and featured victories in the team’s previous seven matches.

While this was a friendly match with the World Cup in mind, Popovic and his staff downplayed this narrative before the game. The Socceroos were particularly disappointed as the defeat occurred despite Bos giving them the lead after 19 minutes.

Defense has historically been a key strength of this team, even prior to Popovic’s arrival, and the former defender has only reinforced this. It’s not a reason for Australians to panic.

However, two lapses in concentration allowed Wright to break through, and as the Championship’s top scorer demonstrated, players in good form at the highest level will exploit any opportunities. As the Socceroos chased the game, a situation rarely seen since their late draw against Bahrain last November, the U.S. team capitalized and created numerous scoring chances that, with more clinical finishing, could have significantly widened the lead. — Lynch

3. Roldan Shows Resilience After Slow Start

It’s hard to believe that just two months ago, Roldan’s chances of making the World Cup roster seemed slim. He was almost overlooked for the September matches, but he received a late call-up and delivered an impressive performance in the 2-0 victory over Japan.

Roldan strengthened his case with another strong performance on Tuesday, especially considering his initial struggles. The U.S. had possession early on, but in the 19th minute, Bos breached the U.S. defense, with both Chris Richards and Roldan needing to defend better to stop the left back’s run.

Roldan responded remarkably. He quickly influenced the U.S. attack and came close to scoring twice with shots that narrowly missed. After assisting on Wright’s first goal, Roldan’s quick thinking led to Wright’s second goal. Following Alex Freeman winning a free kick on the right wing, Roldan quickly took it, immediately placing Wright in a one-on-one situation that he successfully converted.

Like Wright, Roldan significantly improved his chances of making a second consecutive World Cup roster. The Seattle Sounders midfielder faces competition, but Roldan is favored by Pochettino for his contributions on and off the field. If he maintains this level of performance, it will be difficult to exclude him from the World Cup roster. — Carlisle

4. Pulisic’s Injury Clouds October Window

After a successful September window, the hope for Christian Pulisic in October was to play alongside more of the USMNT’s preferred starting lineup. An ankle injury limited Pulisic to just 17 minutes in the 1-1 draw against Ecuador. It’s uncertain if Pulisic re-injured the same ankle against Australia, but he endured several hard tackles. After Australia’s Jason Geria was booked in the 26th minute for a tackle on Pulisic, the U.S. attacker was substituted two minutes later.

Pochettino’s decision to substitute Pulisic made sense, as there was no need to further risk his star player’s health, especially given his strong form for AC Milan. However, the injury is a setback for the USMNT, at least in the context of this window. With the World Cup countdown underway, it’s beneficial for Pochettino to have his top players on the field together. This will now have to wait until next month, assuming Pulisic recovers in time. — Carlisle

5. Australia’s Loss Could Have Major Consequences

Due to their victory over Canada and Austria’s surprising 1-0 defeat to Romania in European qualifying, the Socceroos were ranked 24th in the FIFA rankings as of Tuesday evening. This position would have placed the Socceroos in Pot 2, potentially leading to an easier World Cup group if the draw had occurred that day.

However, Tuesday’s 2-1 loss has jeopardized these hopes. While a loss on the road against the 16th-ranked United States won’t significantly impact their ranking points—certainly not as much as the 14.88 points Austria lost for their defeat to the Romanians—Australia will still drop in the rankings.

Will this defeat prove costly in the end? It’s uncertain, but with a match against the reigning World Cup champions and world No. 2 Argentina in India, as well as another rumored match against 21st-ranked Iran, the Australians may face a difficult path before the December draw. — Lynch

6. Bos Demonstrates His Promising Potential

Despite the disappointing loss, the night wasn’t a complete loss for Australia. Bos delivered another performance that sets him apart as one of the most exciting talents emerging in Australian soccer, even with competition from players like Nestory Irankunda and Mo Touré.

After being named the Eredivisie player of the month, the first Australian to receive the honor, the 22-year-old immediately changed the game’s dynamic when he came on as a substitute against Canada. He was also one of Australia’s best players when he started against the U.S. on Tuesday evening.

His remarkable athleticism allows him to tirelessly move up and down the touchline, adding a crucial element to break lines and advance field position in Popovic’s system. His goal, which involved seizing a loose ball, pushing through three American defenders, brushing past Roldan, and finishing into the bottom corner, showcased his skill and physical prowess.

Bos previously set an Australian transfer record when he moved from Melbourne City to KVC Westerlo in 2023, and his subsequent transfer to Feyenoord this season appears to be a good decision for the Dutch club. In the coming years, it’s likely that he will be playing in one of the world’s top leagues. — Lynch