LIVE UPDATES: USMNT Defeats Australia 2-0 in Second FIFA World Cup 2026 Match | OneFootball

SEATTLE - The U.S. Men’s National Team is through to the Knockout Round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 following a 2-0 victory against Australia at Seattle Stadium on Friday afternoon. The victory—the United States’ eighth World Cup shutout—seals a spot in the Round of 32.

The USMNT dominated the first 45 minutes, relying on an Australia own goal in the 11th minute and an Alex Freeman header in the 43rd minute to confirm the victory. The second half featured a much more energized Australia side, resulting in a chippy final 45 minutes in Seattle. Next up, the U.S. will face Türkiye in its Group D finale at Los Angeles Stadium on Thursday.

FT - ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER DUB!

The U.S. have defeated Australia by a final tally of 2-0 here at Seattle Stadium! Now a perfect 7-0-0 at Seattle Stadium, the Stars and Stripes controlled the contest nearly from start to finish.

90+6’ - Last few changes

Haji Wright is on for Folarin Balogun, and Gio Reyna enters for Weston McKennie. Almost there.

90’ - Six minutes of stoppage time

Just a few minutes left in this one. The Socceroos are pressing hard to claw back into this one, and there’s been a number of fouls on both sides as the clock winds down.

80’ - Two World Cup debutants on to see this one out

Joe Scally comes in for Sergiño Dest, while Auston Trusty enters in place of Antonee Robinson. Both players coming on are set for their World Cup debuts.

74’ - Berhalter on, Pepi off

Pochettino makes his first substitution deep into the second half, bringing on Sebastian Berhalter in place of Ricardo Pepi.

70’ - Final pause

The squad surrounds Mauricio Pochettino during the second-half hydration break as he gets some more coaching tips in. Australia has amped up its attacking presence, but the U.S. defense has stood tall. Goalkeeper Matt Freese has two saves and his clean sheet hopes are still on.

59’ - In control

Per Opta, the U.S. has attempted the last eight shots of the match and Australia hasn't taken a shot in 45 minute (since 12').

56’ - First U.S. Caution

The USMNT’s Antonee Robinson is shown yellow after clipping a Socceroo on the run.

46’ - Back for more

The second half has kicked off! No changes for the USMNT, but Australia opts for three substitutions, notably bringing on last week’s goalscorers, Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe.

HT - Strong First Half from the USMNT

Up 2-0 at the break, the U.S. has controlled the tempo of the match. The Stars and Stripes hold advantages in shots (9-2), touches in opposition box (14-6), final third entries (38-19), possession (70%-30%) and accurate passes (259-78) among several other statistics.

43’ - After a VAR check, GOAL USA!

Alex Freeman toes the line, but stays onside to nod in a rebounded Sergiño Dest shot. It’s Freeman’s first World Cup goal and the third of his USMNT career. It’s United States 2, Australia 0, just before halftime.

Freeman becomes the first USMNT defender to score in a World Cup game since John Brooks against Ghana in 2014. Freeman’s goal is also the first headed score for the USMNT in a World Cup match since that aforementioned John Brooks goal.

40’ - Quick pause in action

Alex Freeman and Australia’s Paul Okon-Engstler rise up to contest a header, and both go down after a clash of heads. After an evaluation, both return to the pitch a few minutes later.

32’ - Another Aussie Caution

Alessandro Circati picks up the second yellow card of the game, this time for cutting down a streaking Malik Tillman.

25’ - Australia threatening

It’s been a chippy affair thus far. There have been four fouls called on both sides, and Australia’s Jordan Bos picked up the first yellow card of the contest for his chopping challenge on Weston McKennie in the 16th minute. The Socceroos have taken a pair of corner kicks in quick succession before the first-half hydration break here in a sunny Seattle.

11’ - GOAL UNITED STATES!

Balogun races down the pitch, slicing a ball toward Ricardo Pepi in the center of the six-year box, but it’s Australia defender Cameron Burgess who knocks the ball into his own net. It’s United States 1, Australia 0.

Per Opta, the USA is the first team in FIFA World Cup history to benefit from an own goal in two consecutive matches.

10’ - U.S. controlling tempo

Though both sides have managed a shot in the first 10 minutes, the USMNT have controlled roughly 80% of the possession.

1’ - Freese forced into action early

In his second consecutive World Cup start, goalkeeper Matt Freese corrals an Australia shot from a tight angle to tally his first save of the match.

1’ - Kickoff!

The USMNT’s second FIFA World Cup 2026 match is underway here in Seattle!

PRE-GAME - Minutes away from action

The players are proceeding out of the tunnel on a perfect Friday in Seattle. The anthems are next in a stadium packed to the brim. There’s a strong contingent of Australia supporters, but Seattle Stadium is predictably dominated by fans in red, white and blue.

PRE-GAME - The Lineups

Christian Pulisic is unavailable for today’s match due to injury. The lone change from the Paraguay match sees Ricardo Pepi earn his first World Cup start.

For the Socceroos, head coach Tony Popovic makes two changes from their victory against Türkiye, as the two goalscorers from that match—Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe—start on the bench. Like their first outing a week ago, captain and goalkeeper Mathew Ryan along with vice-captain and midfielder Jackson Irvine are available as substitutes.

PRE-GAME - Friendly Cascadia Confines

The USMNT returns to Seattle for the first time since a 2-1 Quarterfinal victory against Ecuador in the Copa América Centenario on June 16, 2016. The USMNT is an unblemished 6-0-0 at Seattle Stadium—its third-best winning percentage at any domestic stadium—and a near-perfect 9-1-1 all-time in Seattle.

PRE-GAME - USMNT Availability

As of Friday morning, Christian Pulisic’s availability is still to be determined for this afternoon’s FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage match between the U.S. Men’s National Team and Australia, USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino confirmed at his pre-match press conference Thursday afternoon at Seattle Stadium.

The remaining 25 players are good to go.

PRE-GAME - USMNT vs. Australia History

The United States and Australia have met on four prior occasions—all non-official matches - between 1992 and 2025. The lone Australia win came in the first meeting, a 1-0 contest at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. in 1992. Since then, the USMNT has gone unbeaten against the Socceroos, settling for a scoreless draw in San Jose, Calif. in 1998 before picking up a pair of victories more recently—first a 3-1 win in Roodepoort, South Africa in 2010 just prior to the World Cup, and later a 2-1 come-from-behind victory in Commerce City, Colo. last October.

In the pair’s most recent meeting, striker Haji Wright recorded a brace and Cristian Roldan tallied two assists, while 17 of the 24 players on the matchday squad earned a spot on head coach Mauricio Pochettino’s final World Cup roster.

PRE-GAME - Australia Players to Watch

Popovic made the decision to bench captain and goalkeeper Mathew Ryan along with vice-captain and midfielder Jackson Irvine for his side’s opening World Cup match against Türkiye. The gamble paid off, as the pair’s replacements—22-year-old Beach in goal and 21-year-old Paul Okon-Engstler in midfield—made key contributions in Australia’s victory: Beach made a record-setting eight saves and Okon-Engstler provided the assist on Irankunda’s match-winner.

The pacey winger, Irankunda, made the most of his 61 minutes and 18 touches, scoring the winner to become Australia’s youngest World Cup goal scorer. Additionally, the Socceroos are bolstered by a stoutdefensive unit, composed of Feyenoord Rotterdam’s Jordan Bos, Parma Calcio 1913’s Alessandro Circati, Leicester City’s Harry Souttar and rising Colorado Rapids teenager Lucas Herrington.

Further up the pitch, Australia is anchored by midfielders Cristian Volpato of Sassuolo in Italy, Cammy Devlin of Scottish Premier League runners up Heart of Midlothian, and the New York City FC tandem of Aiden O’Neill and Kai Trewin—both teammates of USMNT goalkeeper Matt Freese. The Socceroos’ goalscoring presence is highlighted by 22-year-old Norwich City forward Mohamed Touré and the attack-minded duo of wingers Irankunda and Metcalfe, who both scored against Türkiye last time out.

PRE-GAME - The Socceroos

Australia is currently ranked 22nd in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Rankings, its highest ranking since May 8, 2012. At the moment, the Socceroos are ranked as the third-highest AFC team, trailing only Japan (17) and Korea Republic (21).

After blitzing through AFC World Cup qualifiers with an 11-1-4 record and +31 goal differential between March 2024 and June 2025, Australia hit the pitch for 10 pre-World Cup tune-ups. Against a pool of nine unique teams from five different confederations boasting an average World Ranking of roughly 43, Australia went 5-4-1, notably losing against Mexico (May 30), Colombia (Nov. 18) and the United States (Oct. 14), picking up a draw against Switzerland (June 6) and securing victories against Canada (Oct. 10) and Cameroon (March 27).

The Socceroos earned their fifth World Cup match victory last weekend, shutting out a confident Türkiye side 2-0 at BC Place Vancouver thanks to eight saves from 22-year-old goalkeeper Patrick Beach—a record for an Australian goalkeeper in a World Cup and the most by any goalkeeper on his World Cup debut since 2002—and goals from 20-year-old Nestory Irankunda and FC St. Pauli man Connor Metcalfe. Despite only holding 28.3% possession—Australia’s lowest in a World Cup match—the contest was ultimately decided by Irankunda’s match-winning first-half strike as he became the Socceroos’ youngest World Cup goalscorer.

PRE-GAME - How to Watch

The match will be broadcast live on FOX with English commentary. Spanish commentary can be found on Telemundo and Peacock starting at 3 p.m. ET. Pregame coverage begins at 1 p.m. ET.

Fans can stream USMNT vs. Australia on the FOX One app with English commentary and Telemundo and Peacock with Spanish commentary starting at 3 p.m. ET. Pregame coverage begins at 1 p.m. ET.

Spanish-language commentary can be found on Fútbol de Primera. Coverage of the United States vs. Australia will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET.