United States of America vs Australia; FIFA World Cup Group D
United States of America vs Australia. FIFA World Cup Group D.
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World Cup 2026: USA 2-0 Australia - Alex Freeman goal helps co-hosts secure place in knockout stages
Match report as USA beat Australia 2-0 to secure place in World Cup knockout stages; Cameron Burgess scored own goal before Alex Freeman headed in second in Seattle; co-hosts USA become second team to reach round of 32 after Mexico
Friday 19 June 2026 23:16, UK
Co-hosts USA secured their place in the World Cup knockout stages with a 2-0 victory over Australia in Group D.
Having beaten Paraguay 4-1 in their opening game in Los Angeles, Mauricio Pochettino's side produced another commanding display in Seattle to continue their strong start to the tournament.
USA sit top of Group D with six points, on course to finish in first place, and, according to FIFA, guaranteed to advance to the round of 32 as one of the best third-placed teams at a minimum.
Folarin Balogun, scorer of two goals against Paraguay, forced the opener when Australia defender Cameron Burgess turned the striker's cut-back into his own net in the 11th minute.
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Defender Alex Freeman added the second when VAR overturned an offside call against him after he had nodded Sergino Dest's deflected shot over the line following a USA corner.
Head coach Tony Popovic tried to get Australia back into the game by making a triple change at half-time but they were unable to meaningfully trouble goalkeeper Matt Freese as USA became the second team to reach the knockouts after Mexico.
USA finish the group stage against Turkey in Los Angeles on June 26 while Australia take on Paraguay in their final fixture.
The key moments from Seattle...
11: GOAL! Burgess sends Balogun's cut-back into his own net for the opener
43: GOAL RULED OUT! The linesman flags Freeman for offside after he heads in
45: GOAL GIVEN! VAR overturns the offside decision and the goal is given
45+7: SAVE! Dest tests Patrick Beech with a low shot
52: WASTE! Balogun spurns a one-on-one chance to add a third
62: OVER! Australia's Cristian Volpato fires a good chance over after coming off the bench
65: SAVE! Connor Metcalfe, another Australia substitute, shoots too close to Freese
87: AGGRO! Three late bookings as tempers fray
Analysis: No Pulisic, no problem for USA
USA were without their star player Christian Pulisic in Seattle due to the calf injury that forced him off during the win over Paraguay but this was further proof that they are no one-man team.
Folarin Balogun continues to lead the line impressively. He showed explosive pace to get in behind Australia's backline when forcing the opening goal and held the ball up well throughout.
Ricardo Pepi, Pulisic's replacement, also contributed positively, while Pochettino's midfield three of Tyler Adams, Malik Tillman and Weston McKennie dominated their Australian counterparts.
The co-hosts have individual quality but most encouraging for Pochettino and their fans is their cohesiveness as a unit. Their off-the-ball work against Australia was excellent, as it was against Paraguay, with their opponents unable to cope with their press.
Pulisic's injury is not thought to be serious. USA will hope for a prompt return. But Pochettino certainly sounded pleased by the performance his team delivered without their main man.
"Christian is an important player for us but we're a team and it was impossible for him to play for us today," he said. "We want him back for the next game but if we want to win the tournament, we need the whole team and all the players need to be available."
Poch: Our play was amazing
USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino: "It was a fantastic game again.
"A very good first half. We dominated against a very tough team.
"When the draw happened in December, I said it was a tough draw but our play was amazing.
"We have amazing fans, it's matching Argentina! I'm so happy for them."
Popovic: They won every duel
Australia head coach Tony Popovic: "I don't know if it was the occasion but we looked sluggish, heavy-legged. They were quicker and more powerful.
"They won every duel, they won every second ball. When you do that, it becomes very difficult to gain any momentum.
"Then we conceded two soft goals. The reaction in the second half was outstanding.
"When you think about the noise here, the players showed how good they are in the second half but you can't give away that much in the first at that level."
