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The United States roared to the top of Group D at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following up their opening-round victory over Paraguay with a 2-0 result against Australia in Seattle on Friday.
The victory came without superstar Christian Pulisic, who was injured in the first half of the Paraguay victory and could not recover from his calf problem in time to prove fit for this match.
An early own-goal by Australia defender Cameron Burgess forced by Folarin Balogun gave the USMNT a lead just 11 minutes in, and they would double that advantage through Alex Freeman minutes before halftime.
After the break, Australia opened things up and tried to get back into the game but lacked final-third quality to claw back level. The introduction of their goal-scorers from their opening win over Turkey, Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe, saw the Socceroos provide more danger, but they never truly worked Matt Freese in the U.S. goal.
The win guaranteed the United States would go through to the Round of 32, and they will await the result between Turkey and Paraguay later today to see if they can clinch top spot in Group D ahead of their group finale against Turkey next Thursday.
The Sporting News followed the match between the United States and Australia live, providing minute-by-minute commentary, analysis, and highlights from the group-stage game in Seattle.
PLAYER RATINGS: Get minute-by-minute analysis of each USMNT player’s performance against Australia
USA vs. Australia final score Location: Lumen Field (Seattle, WA)
Referee: Felix Zwayer (GER)
Starting lineups:
USA (4-4-2, right to left): 24. Freese (GK) — 16. Freeman, 3. Richards, 13. Ream, 5. A. Robinson (Trusty, 80′) — 2. Dest (Scally, 80′), 8. McKennie (Reyna, 90′), 4. Adams, 7. Tillman — 9. Pepi (Berhalter, 74′), 20. Balogun (Wright, 90′).
Australia (5-4-1, right to left): 18. Beach (GK) — 4. Italiano, 3. Circati, 19. Souttar, 21. Burgess (Geria, 46′), 5. Bos — 23. Velupillay (Metcalfe, 46′), 13. O’Neill, 24. Okon-Engstler, 7. Leckie (Volpato, 61′) — 9. Toure (Irankunda, 46′).
2026 WORLD CUP HQ: Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule | Updated World Cup standings
USA vs. Australia stats USA vs. Australia live updates, highlights from 2026 World Cup FULLTIME: USA 2-0 Australia The second half was a lot dicier than the first, but the U.S. pulls through with a 2-0 victory in the end! Australia tried to open up the game and threaten the Americans as best they could, but didn’t have enough to make a difference in front of Matt Freese’s goal.
The USMNT is two-for-two at the 2026 World Cup!
90+4 min You don’t see this, but…the ref is cramping! He’s down for a few minutes while he recovers and gets some hydration. Many people don’t realize how much the referees run during a match!
Haji Wright comes on to replace Folarin Balogun, while Weston McKennie is replaced by Gio Reyna.
Watch in USA:
Flo Balogun helps stretch out the referee pic.twitter.com/iQLHCX2wuc
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 19, 2026 88th min: Yellow cards There’s a pair of off-ball incidents that have kicked off a bit of handbags here. First, Harry Souttar and Folarin Balogun get in a physical tussle as Balogun headlocks the Australia defender as he jumps for a ball in the air. The U.S. forward nearly reacts with anger before holding himself back. Balogun and Souttar are both booked for the coming-together.
Moments later, Jacob Italiano is also shown a yellow card for some pushing and shoving elsewhere on the field while the first scrum is being worked out.
85th min: Chance, Australia! A wild scramble in the U.S. penalty area somehow doesn’t result in a goal, as Harry Souttar whiffs on his shot attempt from six yards out before bulldozing Chris Richards for a foul that ends the threat!
It’s been all Australia for the last 15 minutes, with the U.S. unable to relieve the pressure.
80th min After Sebastian Berhalter came on for Ricardo Pepi a bit earlier, Joe Scally and Auston Trusty will replace Sergino Dest and the booked Antonee Robinson. The U.S. subs nearly run afoul of the 10-second substitution time limit, but they successfully argue that they were waiting to make sure a downed Alex Freeman was ok before completing the sub. The Australia coaching staff is unhappy.
68th min: Hydration break The U.S. is starting to feel more pressure from Australia, who have come out of their shell in the hopes of creating dangerous moments to get back in the game, but without creating much of anything outside of Volpato’s blasted shot.
Mauricio Pochettino may want to think about taking Tyler Adams out to protect him from picking up a second yellow card of the tournament which would see him suspended for the finale against Turkey.
61st min: Chance, Australia! Mathew Leckie has to come off due to an injury, as Cristian Volpato comes on in his place. Moments after coming on, he has a wide-open look on goal from about 12 yards out, and blasts it over the crossbar!
There’s a very quick VAR review for a Tyler Adams trip on an Australia forward, but he’s not even looking at the opponent when he goes down, it’s wholly incidental, and indeed the referee waves play on.
56th min: Yellow card Antonee Robinson is booked for leaving a trailing foot out late which trips Jacob Italiano after he releases the ball.
52nd min: Chance, USA! The United States get out on the counter-attack with Australia caught high up the field, but Folarin Balogun can’t finish the chance! He’s clean through on goal, but Balogun slows considerably once he receives the ball near midfield, which allows Alessandro Circati to catch him from behind and make the block of his eventual shot!
2nd half kickoff Australia has made a triple substitution as the second half gets under way. Their two goal scorers against Turkey, Connor Metcalfe and Nestory Irankunda, enter the match alongside defender Jason Geria, with Mohamed Toure, Nishan Velupillay, and own-goal scorer Cameron Burgess exit.
HALFTIME: USA 2-0 Australia What a wonderful 45 minutes from the United States! Another dominant first half as the USMNT proves the opener against Paraguay was not, in fact, a fluke.
Australia have tried to disrupt the U.S. with their physicality and speed on the counter-attack, but it has had little effect against the U.S. in possession. Meanwhile, the Mauricio Pochettino counter-press has been effective in negating Australia’s attempts to get out of their own half, just as it did against Paraguay.
The U.S. is well on its way towards another victory, but there’s still 45 minutes more to go!
44th min: GOAL, USA!!! The United States has the ball in the back of the net, but the flag is up for offside!!!
Off a set piece won by great strength from Malik Tillman, the U.S. play the ball to the top of the penalty area, and Sergino Dest fires it on net from long range! The effort is blocked, but pops up in the air where Alex Freeman heads it in!
BUT NO!!!! IT’S A GOOD GOAL AFTER A VAR REVIEW! A replay shows that Freeman is JUST onside thanks to the trailing foot of an Australian defender, and the goal is given!!!! The U.S. leads!
Watch in USA:
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 19, 2026 39th min There’s a long stoppage here as two players are down receiving treatment on the near touchline, one from each team.
Alex Freeman and Paul Okon-Engstler are both being checked for concussions after a clash of heads, with the referee having a conversation with the medical staff from both teams. A good job here for everyone involved to be smart about the situation. The two players have a quick handshake at the end of it, and they both return to action.
32nd min: Yellow card The second Socceroos player to be booked is Alessandro Circati who rakes the side of Malik Tillman’s leg as he tries to play a one-two with Folarin Balogun atop the penalty area. It’s another beautiful move by the United States and results in more yellow cards, forcing Felix Zwayer to take action.
25th min: Hydration break As they come to the end of (effectively) the first quarter, the U.S. has played this very well. They are in control of the match, even if Australia has forced a few more possessional errors by the U.S. than Paraguay ever did.
Since the own-goal, the U.S. has managed to pummel the Australia back line, continuing to build forward even if moves don’t officially end in a shot. It’s been a very strong start from the World Cup co-hosts, but more goals will be important to provide cover!
16th min: Yellow card Australia left-back Jordan Bos has picked up the game’s first booking, as he plants the palm of his hand directly into Weston McKennie’s face as they contest a loose ball. Australia have been testing the referee early and often in this match, and Felix Zwayer has finally had enough.
11th min: GOAL! USA!!! THE UNITED STATES WITH AN EARLY STRIKE! THEY’RE IN FRONT! IT’S AN OWN GOAL!!!!
Folarin Balogun creates the move with a burst on the ball down the left flank, and his cross to Ricardo Pepi is turned into his own net by Cameron Burgess!!!!
Watch in USA:
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 19, 2026 9th min Australia have been bright early on looking to press the U.S. in their buildup and cause problems on the counter. They are known for their physicality, and an early challenge on Tyler Adams by Mathew Leckie is a dangerous one, but he somehow gets away without picking up a yellow card for the bad tackle. That’s an early miss from German referee Felix Zwayer.
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 19, 2026 Kickoff National anthems are complete, there was an exceptional helicopter flyover, and the match is now under way in Seattle! It’s an extremely raucous atmosphere at Lumen Field!
An EPIC flyover ahead of the @USMNT’s FIFA World Cup match against Australia in Seattle 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Di5UbaBxYj
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 19, 2026 Prematch 15 mins to kickoff (2:45 p.m. ET): With just 15 minutes to kickoff, the atmosphere in Seattle for both fanbases is insane! Here we go!
I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever seen a pre-show environment like this before. The scenes in Seattle are bananas. Incredible. pic.twitter.com/WCqmcEo3iH
— Braylon Breeze (@Braylon_Breeze) June 19, 2026 — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 19, 2026 30 mins to kickoff (2:30 p.m. ET): After the fiasco with the NBA Finals, where Elmo created a swath of tongue-in-cheek vitriol amongst Knicks fans in New York City by saying that he “hopes both teams have fun,” the Sesame Street star has finally picked a side today, as he’s backing Team USA!
🗣️ ELMO IS TEAM USA 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/LdEUawgLWR
— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) June 19, 2026 45 mins to kickoff (2:15 p.m. ET): “We started making this about everything except the thing itself.”
A really great hype video by Jon Hamm for the USMNT today against Australia!
“Nothing left to hide behind, everything left to prove.” 🇺🇸
Jon Hamm gets us ready for a pivotal USA vs Australia matchup at the FIFA World Cup pic.twitter.com/RhnDUfBEPC
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 19, 2026 1 hour to kickoff (2 p.m. ET): The USMNT fans in Seattle are marching to Lumen Field in style, with some atop horseback!
The horses are leading the #USMNT March to the Match.
Seattle, hosting its first USMNT game in a decade, is hyped for a critical World Cup clash vs Australia. pic.twitter.com/EdgWJWphjx
— Ben Steiner (@BenSteiner00) June 19, 2026 1 hour 15 mins to kick (1:45 p.m. ET): The USMNT is not the only team that has made surprising lineup changes to important attacking players, as Australia boss Tony Popovich has also made two very interesting calls.
After Australia was so devastating on the counter-attack against Turkey, Popovich has benched both his goal scorers from that game, with Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe taking a seat. They are replaced by Mathew Leckie and Nishan Velupillay, who both play in Australia’s domestic league, in support of Norwich City striker Mohamed Toure up top.
1 hour 30 mins to kick (1:30 p.m. ET): According to Mauricio Pochettino on the FOX pregame show, Christian Pulisic is not available for the United States today. Ricardo Pepi is the surprising choice to start in his place. The biggest superstar for the co-hosts will not be fit for action against Australia, and there may be tactical tweaks involved to get them there.
EXCLUSIVE: USA star Christian Pulisic is OUT today with a calf injury against Australia and Ricardo Pepi will get the start, USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino tells FOX Sports’ @JennyTaft. pic.twitter.com/ZobSiOfjYx
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 19, 2026 1 hour 45 mins to kick (1:15 p.m. ET): Christian Pulisic has made it onto the team bus headed to Lumen Field in Seattle. We still do not know if he is fit enough to play yet. We find out in around 15-30 minutes!
Christian Pulisic ahead of @USMNT vs Australia 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/KlLrzxDnVO
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 19, 2026 2 hours to kickoff (1 p.m. ET): CBS analyst Mike Grella has done a number of appearances on U.S. television trumpeting how simple a victory should be for the USMNT today against Australia.
This has not gone down well in Australia at all, where Grella has been painted as a villain. Former Australia international goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has taken shots at how sensational the U.S. punditry scene has become (accurate), and a war of words has begun as the Aussie media has taken exception with Grella’s spin.
The CBS analyst isn’t letting up as the match draws nearer, however, going on the Pat McAfee show and calling this a “layup” for the USMNT today. That seems like a stretch…
The verbal sparring continues! 🥊
Mike Grella has had a lot to say about the Socceroos, and Harry Kewell has something to say back! 🇦🇺
🏆 #FIFAWorldCup | June 12 – July 20 | Every Match on SBS 📺 pic.twitter.com/W4tNmB2iQ7
— SBS Sport (@SBSSportau) June 15, 2026 3 hours to kickoff (12 p.m. ET): Seattle is known for the famous fish toss at the Pike Place Fish Market. They’ve decked out the place for World Cup fever!
Loads of shirts, flags and World Cup stuff around Seattle. And they throw fish. pic.twitter.com/ezNrsoZnPe
— Peter Rutzler (@peterrutzler) June 18, 2026 4 hours to kickoff (11 a.m. ET): Fans who made their way out to Seattle on an American Airlines flight were surprised by a USMNT-themed care package as they head to the site of today’s game!
Flying into Seattle in style for tomorrow’s US vs. Australia match 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/J54CLx7Xgr
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 18, 2026 5 hours to kickoff (10 a.m. ET): With three points in the bag, the United States won’t just be targeting a spot in the knockout stage; they’ll want to aim for the top spot in the group.
The difference between qualifying first in the group or advancing as a second-place or third-place finisher is massive in terms of knockout stage difficulty.
Here is a roundup of the various scenarios facing the USMNT for knockout stage qualification as it stands.
This is why it’s SO important the #USMNT win Group D.
They are likely to draw Argentina in the Round of 16 if they finish second in their group. Poch’s counter-press obliterated Paraguay, but Argentina would be a terrible, TERRIBLE matchup for the United States. https://t.co/OaGfXzmckF
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) June 18, 2026 Where to watch USA vs. Australia in World Cup USA vs. Australia start time Date: Friday, June 19, 2026 Kickoff: 12 p.m. local PT / 3 p.m. ET The match between the United States and Australia will begin at 12 p.m. local time in Seattle, Washington.
What channel is USA vs. Australia on today? Here is where the World Cup match between the United States and Australia can be found televised around in some major territories around the world, as well as streaming online.
Time TV Channel Streaming USA 15:00 ET FOX, Telemundo (Spanish), Universo (Spanish) Fubo, Peacock (Spanish) Canada 15:00 ET TSN 1, TSN 3, TSN 4, RDS (French) TSN site/app,
RDS app (French) UK 20:00 GMT BBC One BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website Australia 5:00 AEDT* SBS SBS On Demand India 00:30 IST* — Zee5, Unite8 Sports 1 * Following day
MORE USMNT NEWS:
Christian Pulisic injury updates USMNT’s Christian Pulisic replacement options Meet USA’s 2026 World Cup soccer team USMNT World Cup legends beg 2026 team to hate defeat How USA could play Iran in World Cup USA World Cup schedule 2026 Date Time (ET) Match Location Fri, Jun. 12 9 p.m. United States 4-1 Paraguay SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA) Fri, Jun. 19 3 p.m. United States vs. Australia Lumen Field (Seattle, WA) Thu, Jun. 25 10 p.m. Turkey vs. United States SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA) Australia World Cup schedule 2026 Date Time (ET) Match Location Sun, Jun. 14 12 a.m. Australia 2-0 Turkey BC Place (Vancouver, CAN) Fri, Jun. 19 3 p.m. United States vs. Australia Lumen Field (Seattle, WA) Thu, Jun. 25 10 p.m. Paraguay vs. Australia Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, CA)