Freeman sends co-hosts through to last 32. Here is the match report.
2026 World Cup
2-0
Match Report
The United States booked their place in the last 32 of the World Cup with a comfortable 2-0 win over Australia at Seattle Stadium.
After winning their openers in Group D, both teams knew a win would send them through, with the USA doing their bit thanks to an own goal from Cameron Burgess and an Alex Freeman header.
Mohamed Toure could have given Australia a surprise lead with just 40 seconds on the clock, but his tight-angled shot from the right of the box was well held by Matt Freese.
The USA upped the pressure after that and got their reward inside 11 minutes as Folarin Balogun raced down the left to fizz a low cross in. Ricardo Pepi – brought in to replace the injured Christian Pulisic – was denied a tap-in as Burgess bundled into his own net.
Mathew Leckie almost got Australia an immediate response at the other end, but his lovely outside-of-the-boot shot curled just over the crossbar.
Weston McKennie then thumped a free header straight at Alessandro Circati, but Freeman doubled their lead just two minutes before the break.
Sergino Dest's blocked shot looped into the air, and Freeman nodded it into an empty net – though the offside flag initially went up, the goal stood after a VAR check showed the defender timed his run correctly.
Balogun's stunning solo run ended in a blocked attempt from just inside the box before Australia sparked to life just after the hour as Tony Popovic's substitutes started to impact the play. Cristian Volpato blazed a shot over before Connor Metcalfe fired straight at Freese.
The USA switched off towards the end of the match as Jacob Italiano's cross looped over everyone in the middle and was recycled, but Circati's low drive hit the crowd of bodies between him and the goal, as Australia failed to mount a comeback.
GEM OF A WIN IN EMERALD CITY! pic.twitter.com/3i3HspeWis
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) June 19, 2026
No Pulisic, no problem
All the talk in the build-up was focused on whether Pulisic would play, and, if he could not, who would replace him in the line-up.
Pepi was the one to fill his place, but the USA never looked like they were in trouble; Dest topped the shot count, having three attempts – one of which was saved on the stroke of half-time – with McKennie, Pepi and Balogun all having two apiece.
It was ultimately a member of the back three who secured the three points, though, with Freeman the second defender to score for the USA in the World Cup since 1994, after John Brooks against Ghana in 2014.
While they have now benefited from five own goals at World Cups – and two in this edition alone – this is also just the second time the USA have scored multiple goals in the first half of consecutive games at the tournament, after the inaugural 1930 edition.
Their goal tally is already up to six, and they only need one more to equal their best-ever record at a single World Cup (seven in both 1930 and 2002), and they will be determined to surpass that against Turkiye in their final group game.
They will be back in Los Angeles for that match, potentially with the top spot already in their grasp, if Paraguay avoid defeat against Turkiye. But Australia have work to do if they want to qualify, with the South Americans their final opponents. Both games will take place on June 25.
Line-ups
United States XI: Tim Ream, Adams, Antonee Robinson, McKennie, Matt Freese, Dest, Chris Richards, Balogun, Malik Tillman, Ricardo Pepi, Alex Freeman
Subs: Álex Zendejas, Cristian Roldán, Haji Wright, Matt Turner, Auston Trusty, Mark McKenzie, Miles Robinson, Timothy Weah, Joe Scally, Reyna, Brenden Aaronson, Sebastian Berhalter, Chris Brady, Max Arfsten
Australia XI: M.Leckie, Cameron Burgess, Souttar, Aiden O'Neill, Jacob Italiano, Mohamed Touré, Nishan Velupillay, Jordan Bos, Alessandro Circati, Patrick Beach, Paul Okon-Engstler
Subs: A. Behich, Ryan, Paul Izzo, Degenek, J. Irvine, Jason Geria, Awer Mabil, Ajdin Hrustic, Connor Metcalfe, Cammy Devlin, Kai Trewin, Tete Yengi, Cristian Volpato, Nestory Irankunda, Lucas Herrington