2-0 against the “Socceroos”

LIVE: USA and Australia Face Off for Their Second Win!

This is how the U.S. team celebrates when they’ve won both of their first two games at a World Cup…(Bild: AP/Manu Fernandez)

And that makes two—following host Mexico the day before, host USA has now also secured its spot in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup! In a matchup between two teams that had both won on the first matchday, the “Soccer Boys” secured a clear 2-0 victory over Australia in front of about 69,000 spectators at Seattle Stadium. With six points now under their belt, the U.S. team can no longer be displaced from first place in Group D—but Australia also has a good chance of advancing, thanks solely to its opening-match victory over Turkey...

“Never change a winning team”—it wouldn’t have been surprising if U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino had fielded the same starting lineup against Australia that had been so successful against Paraguay, but here’s the thing: he couldn’t! Of all players, it was offensive all-rounder Christian Pulisic whose calf injury proved too persistent; the AC Milan star was completely absent and didn’t even make the bench. Augsburg forward Ricardo Papi stepped into the starting lineup in place of Pulisic, but Pochettino did not alter the flexible 3-4-2-1 system up front.

The U.S. Team(Bild: AP/Associated Press)

The Australian team(Bild: AP/Associated Press)

Australians Without the Openers’ Goal Scorers
And on the Australian side? Coach Tony Popovic actually made two changes from the match against Turkey: Connor Metcalfe and Nestory Irankunda, the two goal scorers, were benched, with Matthew Leckie and Nishan Velupillay coming in to replace them. There were no changes, however, to the basic formation—with a back three or back five and GAK player Jacob Italiano on the wing.

Unlike, for example, at the most recent Super Bowl—which, incidentally, was won by the Seattle Seahawks, who normally call today’s match stadium home—there was no flyover of state-of-the-art fighter jets immediately after the U.S. national anthem ended, but four helicopters flying low over Lumen Field certainly made quite an impression, especially on the home fans. Just like the U.S. boys on the field, who—aside from the first shot on goal by Australian Mohamed Touré after 40 seconds—were able to take control of the game immediately—and never let it go.

(Bild: AFP/JAMIE SQUIRE)

Own Goal Sets the Stage for the US Team’s Victory
Although Pochettino’s team didn’t bother much with cautious passing, they quickly established overwhelming dominance in possession (at times 70 percent or more!), the “Socceroos,” playing a 5-5-0 formation while defending, were under constant pressure, but for long stretches they were able to prevent major scoring chances—at the latest on the second attempt. Given that, it almost seems logical that the U.S. owed its early lead in the 11th minute to an own goal by the yellow-clad Australians.

Sent forward along the sideline by Antonee Robinson, Folarin Balogun outran his opponent Jordan Bos with a masterclass in running technique and, upon reaching the end line, ultimately delivered a sharp pass into the middle—Cameron Burgess tried to clear the ball away from Papi but instead kicked it into his own net. An unfortunate goal from the Australians’ perspective, but not an undeserved one…

(Bild: AP/Abbie Parr)

First a headache, then a header goal by Freeman
There were few truly exciting moments in the remainder of the first half, no matter how much US fans might have enjoyed the home team’s generally high-pressure attacking play—clear-cut chances were few and far between, thanks in part to the cautious defensive lines. Without their solid blocking and sliding tackles, US player Weston McKennie with a header (13th minute) or “Socceroo” Velupillay (23rd minute) might have found the back of the net.

After Alex Freeman and Paul Okon-Engstler gave each other headaches in a collision (both were able to continue after a brief pause!), Balogun and Co. caused some headaches for Australia’s coach Popovic just before the halftime whistle: Following a free kick to the right of the penalty area near the end line, Sergiño Dest took a shot from 17 meters out in the center; the shot, deflected by the floodlights, Freeman—whose head was likely still buzzing from the collision minutes earlier—finally headed (!) it in to make it 2–0 (44th minute). An offside call initially made was ruled a mistake by VAR …

Disappointed above all by his team’s offensive performance—or rather, the lack thereof—Australia coach Popovic responded by making a triple substitution for the second half. And indeed: Thanks to Jason Geria (for own-goal scorer Burgess), Irankunda (for Touré), and Connor Metcalfe (for Velupillay)—and with the Americans playing somewhat more cautiously after their early surge and 2–0 lead—the “Yellow Men” from Down Under were now able to open up the game. They still had to weather a moment of panic shortly after the restart, however, when Balogun, after a pass from Adams, ran alone toward the Australian goal but lost his initial lead of several meters the closer he got to goalie Patrick Beach—and was promptly caught up with, his shot attempt disrupted by Alessandro Circati (52').

U.S. Team Lacks First-Half Dominance
It wasn’t a total loss of control for the U.S. team, but the home side’s first-half dominance was now a thing of the past. To be clear: a true 100-percent chance was still a long time coming. Substitute Irankunda did offer a glimpse of what was to come, though, when he burst down the right flank with a burst of energy into the penalty area and then laid the ball back perfectly to Cristian Volpato—who, however, shot well over the bar (63').

Nestory Irankunda (in yellow)(Bild: AP/Manu Fernandez)

With every passing minute, the game became more disjointed, with plays repeatedly “nipped in the bud”—not always in accordance with the rules—before they could develop. Controlled build-up play became increasingly a thing of the past. In the 85th minute, the Australians finally had another huge chance: After a cross from the left, Geria got a shot off, but Adams blocked the ball with an almost death-defying effort. Of course, since Circati had used his hands in a manner not permitted by the rules, a goal would have been disallowed anyway.

Referee Zwayer Provides the Final “Highlight” of the Match
In stoppage time, Referee Zwayer himself caused an interruption in the match—which had already become quite disjointed—as Australia launched a strangely lackluster—because futile—power play: A cramp made it seem for a few minutes as though the German referee might be forced to leave the field early. But he powered through and saw the game through to its conclusion. Just as the Americans secured their victory—and with it, their advancement to the round of 32…

The result:
USA – Australia 2–0 (2–0)
Seattle, Lumen Field, 69,925 spectators, Referee Felix Zwayer (GER)

Goals: 1–0 (11’/own goal) Burgess, 2–0 (44’) Freeman

Yellow cards: Robinson, Balogun, Richards; Bos, Circati, Souttar, Italiano

USA: Freese – Freeman, Richards, Ream, Robinson (80. Trusty) – McKennie (96. Reyna), Adams, Tillman – Dest (80. Scally), Balogun (96. Wright), Pepi (74. Berhalter)
Australia: Beach – Italiano, Circati, Souttar, Burgess (46. Geria), Bos – Leckie (61. Volpato), O’Neill, Okon-Engstler (78. Irvine), Velupillay (46. Metcalfe) – Toure (46. Irankunda)