The 2026 World Cup hosts are returning to Colorado.
The U.S. Men’s National Team will face Australia in a friendly at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Oct. 14 for its first match in Denver since the 2021 Nations League final against Mexico. It will be the team’s first match at DSGP since 2017.
The match will be the second of a pair of October friendlies, the first being in Austin against Ecuador on Oct. 10. It will be the second time a U.S. national team visits DSGP in 2025, after the women’s national team routed the Republic of Ireland, 4-0, in June.
The USMNT has played just three times at DSGP, but has had some memorable moments. Perhaps most notable of all is 2013’s “Snow Clasico,” a World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica that saw Clint Dempsey score the lone goal in a 1-0 win in the midst of a blizzard.
Fresh off a second-place finish at the Concacaf Gold Cup that culminated in a 2-1 loss to Mexico in the final, the USMNT is less than a year from co-hosting the 2026 World Cup. Colorado Rapids midfielder Djordje Mihailovic and goalkeeper Zack Steffen are in the mix for roles when that time comes.
Steffen, who is putting together a career year in goal, is the most likely to feature after being the presumed starter for the Gold Cup before a knee injury sidelined him for the tournament. Mihailovic, who recorded three assists against Vancouver last Saturday and set a club record for goal contributions in his first two seasons with the club (39), was included on the preliminary 60-man Gold Cup roster but did not make the final cut for an already-stacked midfield core.
The USMNT has played Australia, which will participate in the World Cup, just three times in its history and has a 1-1-1 record. Tickets go on pre-sale on Tuesday, before public sale begins on Friday.
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