The betting markets have installed Canada as the favorite, a position largely predicated on their home advantage. Historically, transatlantic travel for friendly matches can disrupt the rhythm of visiting teams, and the Canadian squad will be eager to perform for their home crowd. Their recent victories over Wales and Romania demonstrate they can compete effectively. However, the optimism is severely tempered by a significant injury crisis in their defense. The confirmed absence of Moise Bombito, Alistair Johnston, Sam Adekugbe, and captain Alphonso Davies strips the team of its first-choice backline and its most dynamic player. This forces coach Jesse Marsch to field an inexperienced and untested defensive unit. Australia, on the other hand, is a team brimming with confidence. Their sustained winning run, primarily in competitive World Cup qualifiers, has built a strong team cohesion and a winning mentality. While some of their key players have faced injury concerns earlier in the year, their recent results suggest they have coped well. The Socceroos' tactical discipline will be their greatest asset. They are unlikely to be overwhelmed by the occasion and will look to exploit the clear weaknesses in the Canadian defense through organized counter-attacks. The key matchup will be Australia's attack against Canada's makeshift defense. If Australia can score, which seems probable, it will put immense pressure on a Canadian side that will need to find the net multiple times to secure a win. Given these factors, a narrow 2-1 victory for the hosts is a plausible but low-confidence prediction. The probability of both teams scoring is high, and a draw or even an Australian upset would not be surprising.