USA see off Australia to reach the World Cup last 32 without Pulisic
Cameron Burgess’s own goal and a first World Cup strike from Alex Freeman sent the hosts into the last 32 with a game in hand, even without their injured captain.
Jun 19, 2026
The United States booked a place in the World Cup knockout rounds with a game to spare, beating Australia 2-0 at Lumen Field in Seattle on June 19. Two first-half goals settled it, and the hosts got the job done without Christian Pulisic, ruled out shortly before kick-off with a calf injury.
The breakthrough came in the 11th minute and owed plenty to American pressure. Folarin Balogun whipped in a dangerous cross, and Cameron Burgess, stretching to deal with it, turned the ball into his own net. It was the second game running that an own goal handed the U.S. the lead, after they benefited from one against Paraguay in their opener, the first time a men’s World Cup side had been gifted goals that way in back-to-back matches.
The second arrived on the stroke of half-time, and it too came off a deflection. Sergiño Dest’s shot spun loose in the Australian box, and Alex Freeman reacted quickest to head home in the 43rd minute. The assistant flagged it offside, but VAR overturned the call and the goal stood, sending the stadium wild. At 21, Freeman has been one of the breakout names of the tournament for the hosts, and this was his first World Cup goal.
No Pulisic, no panic
Losing your captain and best player an hour before kick-off can unsettle a side, but Mauricio Pochettino’s team barely flinched. Pulisic watched from the bench as the Americans dominated the ball and territory, holding Australia to next to nothing in front of goal. For a squad still finding its identity on home soil, doing it without their talisman will count for plenty.
Where it leaves Group D
Victory lifts the United States to six points from two games and top of Group D, with their place in the last 32 already secured. Australia stay on three points. The Americans close out the group stage against Turkey on June 25, while Australia face Paraguay, the co-hosts chasing top spot and a smoother route through the knockouts.