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A dream commencement for nan United States Men's National Team continued connected Friday, and nan dream will proceed into nan adjacent round.
The United States World Cup squad clinched a spot successful nan knockout shape pinch its 2-0 triumph complete Australia successful Seattle connected Friday afternoon, its 2nd triumph successful arsenic galore games successful this World Cup.
It's nan first clip since nan inaugural World Cup successful 1930 that nan United States has won back-to-back World Cup games.
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Team USA celebrates a extremity vs. Paraguay successful a 2026 FIFA World Cup Group D lucifer astatine SoFi Stadium successful Los Angeles. (Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images)
The United States' 2nd World Cup lucifer sewage disconnected to an awfully acquainted start. Flo Balugon’s walk deed Australia's Cameron Burgess and was directed into nan net, resulting successful an own extremity successful nan 10th infinitesimal and giving nan Americans an early lead successful nan group shape matchup.
It was nan first clip successful World Cup history successful which a squad benefited from ain goals successful back-to-back games.
The section stayed tilted aft nan first goal, pinch nan Stars and Stripes getting plentifulness of chances. Amazingly enough, though, they did not person a changeable connected extremity for astir 43 minutes.
But nan U.S. recovered nan backmost of nan nett astatine nan tail extremity of that 43rd infinitesimal aft a free footwear was stopped, and past Alex Freeman, nan boy of erstwhile NFL subordinate Antonio Freeman, headed a shot in. Officials initially ruled it offside, but a VAR cheque reversed nan call, sending Seattle’s Lumen Field into a frenzy and giving Freeman, nan youngest subordinate connected nan roster astatine conscionable 21 years old, his first World Cup goal.
Through 71 minutes, nan United States had possession of nan shot for complete 60% of nan clip arsenic opposed to astir 30% for Australia.
The United States is now 11-2-1 erstwhile scoring first successful nan World Cup.
It was announced earlier nan crippled that Christian Pulisic would not play successful nan crippled aft suffering a calf wounded past week. However, nan squad sufficed rather good without him.
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)
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The squad already has six goals successful group play, tying its group shape record.
With its 2-0 record, nan United States is successful first spot pinch six points, while Australia remains pinch 3 and successful 2nd place. Both Paraguay and Turkey, who look disconnected connected Friday to perchance find nan USA's group fate, are winless pinch zero points.
The United States would clinch a Group D victory, and a favorable tie successful nan Round of 32, if Paraguay either thumps aliases ties pinch Turkey - that crippled kicks disconnected astatine 11 p.m. ET.
However, a Turkey nonaccomplishment whitethorn really not impact nan United States excessively negatively. Sure, they would beryllium successful past spot successful nan group by 3 points; but nan U.S. would beryllium capable to remainder a batch of its players - namely Pulisic - to springiness Turkey a favorable matchup to perchance snatch a Round of 32 spot.
Folarin Balogun and Antonee Robinson observe aft scoring during nan World Cup Group D lucifer betwixt nan United States and Australia successful Seattle connected June 19, 2026. (Ted S. Warren/AP Photo)
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The apical 2 finishers from each of nan 12 groups advance, arsenic good arsenic nan eight-best third-place finishers. So while nan U.S. whitethorn beryllium capable to beryllium comfortably for its ain sake, it could surely beryllium progressive successful immoderate mayhem.
No matter nan case, nan United States will return nan transportation backmost successful Los Angeles against Turkey adjacent Thursday.
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