Australia World Cup star speaks out against referee after big loss to USA as coaches complain

A prima subordinate connected Australia's World Cup team said retired against referee Felix Zwayer aft a 2-0 nonaccomplishment to nan U.S. connected Friday, arsenic nan caput coach and an adjunct coach person now complained astir nan referee arsenic well.

Forward Nestory Irankunda said nan referee had a "stinker."

"If you look astatine really nan referee was today, [there’s] not overmuch I tin opportunity astir that," Irankunda told reporters aft the game.

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"The ref was having a stinker today, but I mean it is what it is," he said. "He was giving each telephone to nan USA. I get it, but astatine nan aforesaid time, we cognize there’s 2 teams connected nan field, truthful you person to springiness nan calls some ways and he didn’t do that today."

Nestory Irankunda of Australia reacts during nan FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D lucifer betwixt nan U.S. and Australia astatine Seattle Stadium successful Seattle, Wash., connected June 19, 2026. (Jared C. Tilton/FIFA via Getty Images)

Irankunda's title came soon aft Australia head Tony Popovic criticized Zwayer arsenic well.

"I thought nan referee gave excessively galore fouls away, successful each honesty," Popovic told reporters aft nan match. "Sometimes you didn’t person to do overmuch to triumph a foul, and connected nan different occasions you you had to do a adjacent spot to get one.

"Today was I wouldn’t opportunity nan champion time for nan referee. Certainly we felt we were Australia coming pinch nan referees."

One of nan much arguable moments successful nan lucifer came erstwhile nan Americans appeared to score their 2nd goal. The play was initially called backmost for offside, but aft a VAR review, officials wished nan extremity was valid and fto it stand.

The U.S. recovered nan backmost of nan nett astatine nan extremity of nan 43rd infinitesimal aft a free kick was stopped, and past Alex Freeman, nan boy of erstwhile NFL subordinate Antonio Freeman, headed a shot in. The people was instantly protested by nan Australians, who felt their goalkeeper had been impeded aliases location was an offside. After a VAR review, nan telephone stood, and nan extremity was awarded.

Popovic questioned nan determination to fto nan people count, aft nan game.

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Tony Popovic, caput coach of Australia, reacts during nan FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D lucifer betwixt nan U.S. and Australia astatine Seattle Stadium successful Seattle, Wash., connected June 19, 2026. (Sarah Stier/FIFA/Getty Images)

"I’m not judge connected that one. We felt that, but unluckily that didn’t spell our way," Popovic said.

Meanwhile, Australia adjunct coach Paul Okon based on that their goalkeeper Patrick Beach was impeded during nan play.

"From what we understood, he astir apt impeded Beachy," Okon said astatine halftime, per FOX Sports. "But, of course, nan VAR decided differently."

Popovic was seen getting into a heated speech pinch nan lucifer officials aft nan crippled ended.

The U.S. scored its first extremity connected an ain extremity by Australia's Cameron Burgess successful nan 11th minute. It marked nan 2nd crippled successful a statement wherever nan U.S. scored first connected an early ain goal.

But contempt nan complaints astir nan referee, Popovic did springiness in installments to nan Americans and admitted his players looked "sluggish" connected Friday.

United States' Alex Freeman heads nan shot for a extremity past Australia goalkeeper Patrick Beach during nan World Cup Group D shot lucifer successful Seattle connected June 19, 2026. (Maddy Grassy/AP Photo)

"I don't cognize if it's nan occasion, but we looked sluggish, heavy-legged ... They won each duel, they won each 2nd shot and erstwhile you do that, it makes it very difficult to summation immoderate momentum. And past we conceded 2 soft goals," he said.

"When you think, you know, this noise present — big nation — I deliberation nan players show really bully they are successful nan 2nd half, but evidently astatine this level, you can't springiness distant that overmuch successful nan first."

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Zwayer besides pulled up pinch a cramp towards nan extremity of nan USA’s win. The German official, 45, required thief from some nan USA’s Folarin Balogun and Australia's Aiden O'Neill, who stretched retired his near limb aft Zwayer fell to nan turf.

With its 2-0 record, nan United States is successful first spot pinch six points, while Australia remains pinch 3 and successful 2nd place.