US beats Australia 2-0, advances to World Cup knockout rounds

US beat Australia 2-0 in Seattle on Friday, securing a place in the World Cup knockout rounds with a game to spare. An own goal by Cameron Burgess in the 11th minute gave the US an early lead, and Alex Freeman headed home a free‑kick rebound in the 44th minute after VAR overturned an offside flag. The win came despite the absence of injured star Christian Pulisic; coach Mauricio Pochettino fielded a 4‑4‑2 with Ricardo Pepi up front.

The result puts the US alongside co‑hosts Mexico as the first teams to advance from Group D. If Turkey fail to beat Paraguay later Friday, the US will top the group. With the knockout berth already assured, the US will face Turkey next Thursday, aiming to build on their strong start and chase a quarter‑final run—their best since 2002.

For Nigerian fans following the tournament, this result shapes Group D standings and influences which matches may be worth watching. Will you tune in to the US‑Turkey clash to see if the Americans maintain their momentum, or focus on other group games that could affect the knockout bracket?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/06/19/usa-defeat-australia-to-reach-world-cup-last-32/