After Mexico, another of the 2026 World Cup organizers has mathematically secured a “ticket” to the “32” of the tournament. The USA defeated Australia 2-0 in Seattle, made it 2X2 in Group 4 and, now, what they will be waiting for is to learn the name of their opponent in the next phase.

The match of the 2nd matchday was largely decided by the first 45 minutes, during which Mauricio Pochettino’s team led the “Kangaroos” 2-0. In the 11th minute, Balogan entered the area, passed vertically towards the Beach goal and Burgess, in his attempt to clear the ball, unintentionally sent it into the Australian net (1-0).

The Americans had complete control of the match and in the 43rd minute they scored a second goal with Freeman’s header after Beach temporarily saved Dest’s volley. A phase in which his assistant Zweier was exposed, who indicated that the 21-year-old Villarreal defender was offside. And which VAR quickly corrected, since the young player started from a normal position before “writing” the 2-0. 

The three changes Popovic made at the start of the second half did not help Australia score to get back into the game. Now, the “Socceroos” will play a qualifying “final” against Paraguay.  

Referee: Felix Zweier (Germany)
Yellows: Robinson, Balogan, Richards – Bos, Cirkati, Sutar, Italiano

The compositions of the teams:

USA (Mauricio Pochettino): Friese, Freeman, Richards, Ream, Robinson (80′ Trusty), Tillman, Adams, Dest, McKennie (90’+6 Reina), Pepe (74′ Berhalter), Balogun (90’+6 Wright) 

AUSTRALIA (Tony Popovich): Beach, Italiano, Circatti, Sutar, Burgess (46′ Geria), Bos, O’Neill, Ocon-Engstler (78′ Irvine), Leckie (61′ Volpato), Velupillai (46′ Metcalfe), Toure (46′ Irankunda)