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Patriotism is great, but making money is better: 'Fade the public' in Team USA vs Australia in World Cup 2026
Fox News • • general
Key Points:
- The United States faces Australia in a crucial Group D match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 19 at Lumen Stadium in Seattle, with the U.S. favored at -165 odds by BetMGM.
- U.S. star Christian Pulisic is doubtful due to a calf injury sustained in the opener against Paraguay, potentially leading to reduced offensive effectiveness for the U.S. if he is rested.
- Both teams had strong but somewhat misleading performances in their openers, with the U.S. scoring four goals but only registering 1.42 expected goals, and Australia winning 2-0 despite limited possession and 1.18 expected goals.
- The 2026 World Cup features an expanded 48-team format with 32 knockout spots, encouraging some teams to "load manage" players during group play, which may influence lineups and game intensity.
- Betting trends show heavy action on over 2.5 goals, but expert analysis suggests the under 2.5 goals (-115) bet is a sharper pick given the teams' underlying statistics and potential lineup changes.
