US Claims World Cup Group
US Advances to World Cup Knockout Round, Wins Group D With 2-0 Victory Over Australia
The United States beat Australia 2-0 on Friday at Lumen Field in Seattle, advancing to the World Cup knockout round for the second straight match Enid News. The win moved the U.S. to 6 points in Group D — and they did it all without star forward Christian Pulisic, who sat out with a calf injury.
Group D was sealed hours later when Paraguay defeated Turkey 1-0 in Santa Clara, confirming the U.S. as group winners Rutland Herald. The Americans will play a Round of 32 match at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara on July 1 against a third-place finisher from another group.
Two Goals in 43 Minutes Sink Australia
The U.S. struck early. In the 11th minute, Folarin Balogun pressured Australia's defense and forced Cameron Burgess into an own goal. That gave the Americans a 1-0 lead at Lumen Field in front of 66,925 fans Lufkin Daily News.
Then 21-year-old Alex Freeman made it 2-0 in the 43rd minute. He headed in a set-piece ball for his first World Cup goal. Freeman is the youngest player on the roster and the son of NFL Super Bowl champion Antonio Freeman Herald Bulletin.
Balogun Steps Up With Pulisic Sidelined
Pulisic, the U.S. captain, strained his calf in the opening match against Paraguay on June 12 and was subbed out at halftime. He remains day-to-day heading into the knockout round Dayaton Daily News. His absence could have rattled the team. It did not.
Balogun, who scored twice in the 4-1 win over Paraguay, was again the Americans' most dangerous attacker. "C.P. is a fantastic player," Balogun said after the match. "We didn't have him today, but I think you saw we're still capable to go out there and get a result" Joplin Globe.
U.S. Makes History in the Expanded 48-Team Field
The 2026 World Cup is the first to feature 48 teams, up from 32. That adds a new round — the Round of 32 — meaning the U.S. must win one more knockout game than in any previous cycle Rutland Herald. Back-to-back wins to open a World Cup is also a first for the U.S. in the modern era.
The last time the U.S. hosted, in 1994, they advanced only as one of the best third-place teams. Coach Mauricio Pochettino said depth is the key. "If we want to win, we need the collective effort," he said. "The depth of this roster is what will take us far" Herald Bulletin.
Group D Standings and What Comes Next
The U.S. tops Group D with 6 points and a plus-5 goal difference. Australia sits second at 3 points, Paraguay third at 3 points with a minus-2 goal difference, and Turkey is last with 0 points Enid News. Round of 32 tickets at Levi's Stadium jumped from $140 to over $500 immediately after the U.S. won.
The U.S. still plays Turkey in Los Angeles on June 25 to close out group play. But the stakes of that match are mostly academic. The July 1 round-of-32 date in Santa Clara is now what matters Lufkin Daily News.
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