USA 2-0 Australia: Burgess Own Goal and Freeman Strike Seal Victory
The USA defeated Australia 2-0 at Lumen Field thanks to an own goal from Australian defender C. Burgess and a strike from Alexander Freeman, securing their second straight group win and topping Group D.
In the second round of Group D at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 25, hosts USA defeated Australia 2-0 at Lumen Field in Seattle, securing their second consecutive group win. The match was officiated by German referee Felix Zwayer, with the USA lining up in a 3-5-2 formation and Australia in a 5-4-1.
The USA took the lead in the 11th minute when Australian defender C. Burgess inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, making it 1-0. The own goal sent the home fans into a frenzy. The USA continued to press and doubled their lead in the 43rd minute through defender Alexander Freeman, who found the back of the net to make it 2-0. The score remained 2-0 at halftime.
In the second half, Australia tried to mount a comeback, but the USA defense held firm, limiting their opponents' chances. The USA saw out the 2-0 victory to claim all three points.
Statistically, the USA registered 10 total shots (2 on goal, 2 off goal, 6 blocked), while Australia had 5 shots (2 on goal, 3 off goal). Possession heavily favored the USA at 62% to Australia's 38%. Corner kicks were 7-4 in favor of the USA. Fouls: USA 12, Australia 16. The USA goalkeeper made 2 saves, while Australia's made 1. In passing, the USA completed 444 of 523 passes (85% accuracy), while Australia completed 219 of 310 passes (71% accuracy). Expected goals (xG) were 1.08 for the USA and 0.35 for Australia.
The player of the match was USA defender Alexander Freeman, who scored the second goal and earned a rating of 8.2. The 21-year-old, who plays for Villarreal CF, has 16 caps for the United States. Standing at 188 cm, he is valued at €3.50 million. In this match, he played the full 90 minutes, scoring 1 goal, providing 1 key pass, and completing 65 passes. Freeman, born in Baltimore, Maryland, was a rock at the back and a threat going forward.
After this match, the Group D standings are: USA top with 6 points from two wins (6 goals for, 1 against, GD +5); Australia second with 3 points (2 goals for, 2 against, GD 0); Paraguay also on 3 points (2 goals for, 4 against, GD -2); Turkey bottom with 0 points (0 goals for, 3 against, GD -3).
For the USA, two wins put them in a commanding position to advance. They face Turkey next on June 26, 2026, at 10:00 AM (Beijing time). A draw would be enough to secure qualification. Australia, meanwhile, face Paraguay at the same time in a crucial match that will likely decide second place.
The USA's home advantage and solid defense proved decisive, while Australia must now win against Paraguay to keep their hopes alive. Group D's knockout stage berths will be decided on the final matchday. For more details, visit the match page, USA team page, Australia team page, or the group standings.