Friday features four matches, with none bigger than the meeting between the United States and Australia. With a win, the United States would punch its ticket to the knockout stage. Below, I explain why I expect the United States to have no trouble with Australia, especially if the Stars and Stripes' offense plays to its potential. Then, I highlight what to expect when Scotland meets Morocco and Brazil faces Haiti. Here are the best 2026 World Cup picks for Friday, June 19th’s game United States vs. Australia.
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Friday’s Best 2026 World Cup Picks & Predictions: United States vs. Australia
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
United States vs. Australia
It's hard not to be excited about the United States after their opening win against Paraguay. The offense, led by Folarin Balogun, was outstanding, scoring on four of their six shots on goal. Though Australia also won its first game, there's no doubt that the United States was the more impressive side.
Australia needed to rely heavily on counterattacks to achieve its goals, possessing the ball for just 28% of the match against Türkiye. They completed just 74% of their passes, while allowing Türkiye to complete 90% of their passes and record eight shots on net.
I expect the United States to have plenty of scoring chances in this game. The only question is whether they'll be able to capitalize on those moments. With all the pressure off after their impressive opening victory, I expect the United States to play loose and score multiple times. I also expect Australia to struggle offensively and ultimately fail to put any goals on the board.
Picks: USA to Win in Shutout (+140) & USA Over 1.5 Goals (-136)
