World Cup 2026: US flies to round of 32 after beating Australia 2-0

The United States mens national football team became the second team to secure a spot in the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup, after beating Australia 2-0 on Friday. Mexico became the first team to do it on Thursday. The team led by Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino stepped into Seattle’s Lumen Field knowing that a win would ensure their place in the round of 32, after they trashed Paraguay 4-1 in its opener one week ago. The absence of top player Christian Pulisic who suffered a left calf injury in the opener and was rested as a precaution didnt seem to slow down the U.S. Pochettinos team came out to the pitch swinging, controlling possession with ease and looking to create goalscoring opportunities through fast passing combinations and dribbling runs. It was one of those runs that opened the score, as in the 11th minute striker Folarin Balogun darted through on the left and stepped into the box for a cross. Australian defender Cameron Burgess couldnt take the foot out of the way and pushed the ball into the back of the net for an own goal 1-0. The U.S. continued to dominate the game, but slowed down as the minutes progressed, particularly after the first hydration break. However, theyd double the lead in the 44th minute, as a shot by former Barcelona man Sergio Dest bounced off a defender, allowing Alex Freeman to head it past the Australian goalkeeper.  The goal was initially disallowed as Freeman appeared to be off-side after Dests shot, but a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review determined he was in fact onside, and the goal was given. Australia pushes in the second half It looked like it was going to be a similar story in the second half, with the U.S. still dominating the action. However, the Socceroos slowly but surely clawed their way back into the game, as Pichettinos men slowly retreated. With a hard-nosed, physical brand of football, the Australians managed to muscle the ball away and corner the U.S. in the final 20 minutes. However, they never managed to do more than send crosses into the box and were ultimately unable to get on the scoreboard. After the game, the U.S. fans showed their appreciation for Pochettino, chanting his name as he gave the post-match interview on the pitch. Its amazing, said the Argentine coach. I said the other day that Argentina has great fans, but I think were matching them. Its amazing to see these fans, and Im so happy for them. The U.S. will now have to complete its group-stage fixtures on Thursday, when they face Turkiye. If Pochettinos team can avoid a loss, they will qualify as group leader, setting up a matchup with one of the highest-ranked third-place teams from Groups B, E, F, I, or J, potentially Norway or Senegal. Cover image: USMNT Twitter