EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS | USA v Australia | 2026 World Cup
USA 2-0 Australia: second straight win, but Pochettino's side still chasing a clean sheet
FIFA's official highlights show the USA beating Australia 2-0 in their second match of the FIFA World Cup 2026, with Alex Freeman's goal surviving an offside review. Commentators praise the American attack, particularly Sergino Dest, but note Australia grew dangerous after halftime through substitutes, leaving the hosts still without the clean sheet that has eluded Pochettino's team.
- The USA have now gone ahead via an own goal in two consecutive games — Burgess turned the ball into his own net in this match, following the same pattern as the opener
- Sergino Dest has been the standout performer so far — His dribbling and pace tormented the Australian defence inside the box, described as "twinkle toes"
- Freeman's goal was correctly awarded after a marginal offside review — Replay confirmed he was not beyond the last defender when the ball arrived, and the two US players behind the line were not deemed active
- Australia only became a real threat after the substitutions — Irankunda and the other replacements brought pace and intelligence on the counter, which the commentators say is Australia's strongest style
- Chris Richards was the key defensive figure for the USA — His block prevented a penalty appeal, and he cleared again at the subsequent corner
- A clean sheet would be the icing on the cake but has been rare under Pochettino — This match offered just the second clean sheet in their last 15 games under his management
- All three co-hosts — Mexico, Canada and the USA — remain unbeaten so far in the tournament — After two matches each, none of the host nations has lost
USA and Australia met in the second round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage. Both teams won their opening fixtures. Check out how the hotly anticipated match unfolded! WorldCup USA Australia WorldCup2026 FIFA World Cup: 👉 https://www.instagram.com/fifaworldcup 👉 https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCup 👉 https://www.facebook.com/fifaworldcup 👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@fifaworldcup 👉 https://www.threads.com/@fifaworldcup 👉 https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb78sHK30LKMhYZAwQ3i FIFA Women’s World Cup: 👉 https://www.instagram.com/fifawomensworldcup 👉 https://twitter.com/FIFAWWC 👉 https://www.facebook.com/fifawomensworldcup 👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@fifawomensworldcup 👉 https://www.threads.com/@fifawomensworldcup 👉 https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBedar4yltLthnZzT16 FIFA Club Football: 👉 https://www.instagram.com/fifaclubfootball/ 👉 https://twitter.com/FIFACF 👉 https://www.facebook.com/fifaclubfootball 👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@fifaclubfootball 👉 https://www.threads.com/@fifaclubfootball 👉 https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8ijen6GcG8v4EXmW25
Transcript
Here we go then. Seattle's second game of this FIFA World Cup 2026. And the Emerald City is painted red, white, and blue today. >> [cheering] >> But there is also a very healthy smattering of green and gold, too. The Australians may be outnumbered, but they are determined to make themselves heard today. >> [cheering] >> Ahead of the opening fixture with Paraguay, if there were some doubts as to whether the USA could rise to the occasion, those doubts [music] were emphatically quashed. And now, for their second outing of this World Cup, can the USA meet the moment again? And can they do it without Captain America, at [music] least from the start today? >> [cheering] >> Can Australia gate crash USA's World Cup? Can they unsettle the hosts? Of the three co-hosts, Mexico, Canada, USA, none of them has lost a game yet at this FIFA World Cup 2026. That 4-1 win has really drummed up the enthusiasm of the co-host nation. But now they've got to defend, and the first save of the afternoon, Matt Freese guarding his front post to deny Toure. >> An early mistake, a giveaway. This Weah not expecting the pass. >> Adams to Dest. USA keep the ball moving. McKennie. Adams. Dest Nicely returned to Sergino Dest. Shot was on target, bravely blocked away. It's a good surge. Oh, and it's in! [screaming] THE USA SCORE! AND IT CAN! AND IT'S ANOTHER OWN GOAL! CAMERON BURGESS [screaming] PUTS IT INTO HIS OWN NET. FOR A SECOND GAME in a row this tournament, the USA force an own goal to take the lead. IT'S USA 1, AUSTRALIA NIL. >> [cheering] >> DOWN THAT CHANNEL, it's an excellent run. And it's a really good ball into a dangerous area. Pepi's waiting for it. It doesn't go right to him. It's Cameron Burgess ahead of him that gets the last touch into the back of his own net. >> How do Australia respond to this? It Telliano's done well. Ballo Baley Trying to set it up for Leckie. Mathew Leckie, the joint most international goals of all the players in this Australian squad. >> Well, that's a chance. >> In-swinger headed down by McKennie. So many bodies in the way, it's come off an American arm, and that is going to be a free kick to Australia. Almost for Weston McKennie. >> Tell you what, this shouldn't happen to this Australian defense. There's plenty of height and physicality amongst that back line, but somehow he gets a free header six yards out. >> Adams. Trying to get in around the defenders. Balogun is on his bike here, and he just couldn't wrap it. Spiranovic, Leckie. It's three of the central team for here. Good delivery from Leckie. And that's the most pressure really the USA have faced. Shuffled away and out for Australia's first corner of the match. >> Yeah, first real danger. Other than that Torre effort. >> Sergino Dest. Lovely flick that was. And he's in here. Dest! Oh, he did well not to go down. Some would have taken a tumble in the penalty area there. That was electric from Sergino Dest. And Behich is going to be careful here. It's a real tussle. Free kick to the USA. Look at these twinkle toes from Sergino Dest. >> Honestly, what a player. >> Now, rehearsed move. DEST! MIGHT STILL BE! THE FLAG IS UP. IT'S NOT GOING TO count for Alex Roldan. [cheering] USA fans celebrating. But the flag was raised for offside. >> It's a well-worked free kick to the edge of the box. To the free man. Dest do has an excellent first touch. Tell you what. He might be okay. It is really tight. >> The video assistance is still analyzing the replays of this one. >> So, there's the touch. I think he might well be on. >> Off the a factual review, the goal scorer was not in offside position. GOAL IS CORRECT. >> [cheering] >> USA TWO, AUSTRALIA NIL. >> [cheering] >> The celebrations may be delayed, BUT THEY ARE DELIRIOUS. >> I SAID I FELT AS though he was okay. He reacts so quickly to the ball looping in the air, and he's brave as well to get there ahead of Patrick Beach. His reactions are really good. >> Freeman is not in an offside position, and although two of his teammates were behind the last defender, because they don't touch the ball, those players not deemed to be active, and Alex Freeman scored his third international goal. >> [cheering] >> That just gave USA something to worry about now. Balogun can't be offside. He was inside his own half. [cheering] FOLLOWING BALOGUN, AND HE COULDN'T GET the shot away early enough. What an opportunity for the USA to get their third. >> And what a recovery from Alessandro Circati. So much space for him to run into. How well does the Australian defender do to get back and make the challenge? Just hesitated a fraction too long. >> Australia have only failed to score in two of those 13, but here is Balogun. How unlucky is that that he couldn't take it with him? Volpato, first touch, releases in Ankunda. Now, this is the chance he's been waiting for. Who's with him? Volpato! What an introduction that could have been? First time he's been involved in play. >> That's exactly the sort of thrust that Australia have required. >> Yeah, since he's come on the pitch, it's an excellent run, really intelligent. This is where Australia are at their best when they try and counter-attack at pace, utilize that quality. >> USA delighted to beat Paraguay in their first game. They were disappointed to concede in that match though. They've not had a clean sheet in any of their last nine games, USA. Aaronson Metcalfe Just couldn't get the power. But there's no doubt about it, Australia are beginning to find something in attack that wasn't there earlier. >> Well, those substitutions, Connor Metcalfe Aaronson, the two goal scorers in the first game on the pitch, they look a far bigger threat now. >> Arpachshad If Australia could get one back here, there'd be a lot of American fingernails munched. That's a good shot, turn. Arpachshad Chris Richards with an important header. And then McKennie completes the clearance. Now the VAR has just asked for the restart to be delayed here. What part of the body does that hit hit there? Berhalter, does it come off his arm? Arpachshad Metcalfe, it will not make there. Italiano's cross Cerqueti couldn't get control of it. Down goes Aaronson. Big appeal inside the penalty area. Australia want a spot kick. Video assistant referee will be looking at that in the background. Italiano's cross. It was Chris Richards at the heart of that again. Check is already complete, however. No penalty. Jackson Irvine. And Richards puts it up for the corner. Let's have a look at Chris Richards here. >> Yeah, huge shout, wasn't it? Ball comes towards Irankunda. Does go to the back of him, but I think he >> The striker is looking for it. Goes to ground pretty easily. He's been a handful since coming off the bench. >> No time to waste for Australia. They've swung in the corner. Italiano. Took a little dink on the way through there, BUT STILL ALIVE. MISSED BY SOUTTAR. GYASI ZARDES CAN'T GET A CLEAN SHOT EITHER. OH, what an opportunity for Australia. The referee's whistle is blown. It's going to be a free kick to the USA. But Gyasi Zardes, he tried to put the laces through it there looking for his first ever international goal. >> Well, this is the third or fourth chance because there was a few before him. >> [cheering] >> USA so close to back-to-back opening wins. They can almost touch it now. >> [cheering] >> The icing on the cake would be the clean sheet. Something that's been a rare commodity under Mauricio Pochettino. Just one clean sheet in their last 15 matches. >> This city, which loves this sport, there is going to be a big party in Seattle tonight. It's not just the USA, of course. Mexico, Canada, all of them with the unbeaten start. All making a statement in this tournament. Tillman with late energy. To catch it just ahead of Wright. As the referee blows the final whistle and the USA have done it. Two wins out of two. After beating Paraguay 4-1, [cheering] Potchitino's team have now beaten Australia by two goals to nil. The stars and the stripes are living up to the hype. USA two, Australia nil. >> [cheering]