World Cup 2026: USA Reach Last 32 With Game to Spare After Australia Victory

Balogun and Freeman goals fire USA past Australia in Seattle

Eighth straight Seattle win sends USA through to the World Cup knockouts alongside Mexico. Australia must now get at least a draw vs Paraguay to stay alive.

USA storm into World Cup knockouts with 2-0 win over Australia. USA produce blistering first-half show to book knockout spot...

The USA booked their spot in the World Cup knockouts with a game to spare after a blistering first-half display against Australia. The co-hosts secured a 2-0 win in Seattle to reach the last 16 for the fourth tournament in a row.

Tony Popovic’s call to start 22-year-old keeper Patrick Beach over captain Mathew Ryan paid off. Beach made eight saves and kept a clean sheet vs Turkey in the opener.

The USA wasted no time using home advantage. Desperate to win back-to-back World Cup games for the first time since 1930, they struck just after the 10-minute mark.

Folarin Balogun raced onto Antonee Robinson’s ball down the left, got past Alessandro Circati, and cut it across goal. Cameron Burgess could only turn it into his own net under pressure.

Australia were forced to absorb wave after wave of pressure as the crowd got behind the hosts. Hydration breaks and stoppages gave the Socceroos some breathing room, but they couldn’t survive to half-time with only a one-goal deficit.

Sergino Dest’s effort from the edge of the box took a deflection and looped up. Alex Freeman reacted fastest, heading past Patrick Beach from a couple of yards out to make it 2-0.

The USA kept the pressure on after half-time, but Balogun wasn’t as sharp as in the opener where he scored twice. Tyler Adams released him, yet Circati got back to block his shot.

Australia finally found some life on the break. Substitute Nestory Irankunda brought energy, but Cristian Volpato and Connor Metcalfe both failed to hit the target.

From there the Stars and Stripes were barely troubled. Tempers flared briefly before full-time, but the hosts saw out a comfortable 2-0 win.

That was the USA’s eighth straight win in Seattle. It puts them through to the last 32 alongside co-hosts Mexico, while Canada look set to join them in the knockouts too.

Australia made the World Cup knockout rounds just once before - in Qatar four years ago. They’ll need at least a point vs Paraguay on Thursday to keep their own last-16 hopes alive.