Thursday, October 1, 2026
73 ° Clear
73 ° Clear
As the USMNT prepares for a pivotal Group D showdown against Australia in Seattle on Friday, Tim Weah has made it clear that the noise from outside the U.S. Men's National Team camp is just noise. The winger emphasized a shift in mentality within the squad since the 2022 World Cup, while firmly brushing aside suggestions that the Socceroos will be pushovers.
"We have that bit of edge that we didn't have before," Weah said, reflecting on the team's evolution in an interview. He credits the transformative influence of head coach Mauricio Pochettino and the calming effect of the team's experience in Qatar for a newfound maturity.
"After you get that first World Cup experience, the second one is always a bit easier... from a nervousness standpoint, I think we're a bit more ready," he noted, highlighting the squad's growth over his eight-year tenure with the national team.
Since the FIFA World Cup draw in December, several USMNT legends, including Landon Donovan, Alexi Lalas, and other analysts like Mike Grella, have been vocal about their belief that the Americans would cruise through a group that includes Paraguay, Australia, and Türkiye.
Grella went as far as calling the Australia match a "lay-up," while Donovan described the Socceroos as "significantly worse" than the United States. Those words traveled fast and far. In response, Australian coach Tony Popovic hit back, warning that anyone underestimating his side would "get a rude shock," and tensions simmered right up to tournament kick-off. Donovan even doubled down on his stance after Popovic's response, calling the Australian boss "smug" and essentially telling the Socceroos to book their flights home.
However, Weah is having none of the war of words. "All this talk is just nonsense to me," Weah stated. "When you look at the Australian team, they're a young team that has a lot of fight, a lot of grit, and a lot of hunger, just like us. We respect them in the same way that we respect any other opponent".
Teammate Tyler Adams echoed the sentiment, stating plainly that the back and forth "doesn't help anybody" and that the Australia game was not going to be a layup; if anything, it would be "one of the most difficult games we play."
Both teams enter the match full of confidence, having won their World Cup openers. The USMNT dispatched Paraguay 4-1, while Australia pulled off an impressive 2-0 victory over Türkiye. The Socceroos' disciplined defense and clinical counter-attacking, exemplified by young star Nestory Irankunda, have proven them to be a dangerous opponent.
As the two sides prepare to lock horns at Lumen Field, Weah has drawn a line under the outside chatter. "I don't know what the media is trying to do, but we're not really focused on that," he said. Instead, the USMNT appears focused on proving that its evolution from the team in Qatar into one with a genuine "edge" is ready for its next test. "I think it's going to be a lovely game," Weah added.
