U.S. World Cup confidence ‘through the roof' after win clinches knockout round
A word to the afflicted: what you're watching with the U.S. men's national team is not a hallucination. This is really happening.
On a gorgeous Northwest afternoon, the United States made a little modern history, winning a World Cup game for the second time in two tries, with a 2-0 win over Australia on Friday. That win put the Americans in the next round. A few hours later, when Paraguay defeated Turkey, the U.S. team learned it had won Group D. They will play a knockout game in Santa Clara on July 1.
A caveat before we set off too many fireworks: This is an expanded tournament, so getting to the knockout round earlier than they've done it in the past isn't truly historic for the Americans. In past World Cups, the team has started in a round of 32, and the first knockout games were in the round of 16. Even so, starting this home World Cup with a bang has been impressive.
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U.S. team shows it can handle pressure with win over Paraguay in World Cup opener
The U.S. men's national team shrugged off any pressure, taking the lead early en route to a 3-0 halftime lead as it beat Paraguay 4-1 in a World Cup opener at SoFi Stadium on Friday night.
"I think for us, our confidence is through the roof," said Alex Freeman, who scored the team's second goal. "Now it's how can we give more and more and more?"
One week after their dream opener against Paraguay, the Americans experienced no letdown. Instead, the dream continued, despite the United States missing its most accomplished player.
Forward Christian Pulisic, who dazzled in the first half against Paraguay, did not dress for Friday's game due to a calf injury. He had not trained with the team all week. If the game had been a must-win, it is likely Pulisic would have played, but giving him the extra rest was both precautionary and survivable. Now, with the third game virtually meaningless, Pulisic can get even more rest.
The rest of the team learned of his absence Friday morning.
"CP is a fantastic player - the quality and the leadership he gives us," said striker Folarin Balogun, who was the man of the match for the second straight game. "We didn't have him today, but I think you saw we're still capable to go out there and get a result.
"It was a really professional performance for us."
As expected, the game didn't have the fluidity or open spaces that the Americans found against Paraguay. Australia's plan was to be physical and aggressive and deny chances. The Socceroos, who came into the game tied atop Group D with the United States, play a bit like the Americans once did, before our country began cultivating players with greater skill. The game was physical, with seven yellow cards handed out.
Despite the physicality, the U.S. team took a 2-0 lead into halftime, due to Australian errors. The first goal came in the 11th minute when Australia's Cameron Burgess knocked in an own goal, trying to defend against a charging Balogun, whose speed was creating problems. It was the second straight game that the Americans benefited from an own goal.
"I want to be dangerous," Balogun said. "I want to create opportunities, and it might not always be myself that scores, but if I can force an error that gives us the lead, then for me it's like a goal. It was special."
In the 43rd minute, an Australian foul led to a free kick. Antonee Robinson passed back to Sergiño Dest, who sent the ball in toward the box. The pass was deflected by an Australian defender and Freeman headed the ball into the net. The goal was originally called offsides but a VAR review showed that Freeman was onside. When the VAR review ruled it was a goal, the entire U.S. team chased Freeman down to celebrate.
"I saw my team coming at me and I was like, ‘Oh, Lord,'" said Freeman, the son of former Green Bay Packers receiver Antonio Freeman, who once scored a touchdown not far from where his son scored a goal, catching a pass from Brett Favre in the now destroyed Kingdome a few hundred yards away.
"I guess it's a full-circle family moment," Freeman said. "He can be great, but I can be great in my own way. It shows how amazing it is to have a dad who's successful and can mentor me to be ready for moments like these."
The U.S. team - which had been so inconsistent and erratic in the run-up to the World Cup - seems ready for "moments like these." After Friday's result they stood atop Group D with two wins, six total points and a goal differential of five. They flew back to Orange County to their swanky beachside hotel where they watched Paraguay defeat Turkey 1-0 in Santa Clara, crowning the Americans winners of Group D. Now the team can plan to rest players, protect those holding yellow cards, and give backups some World Cup experience.
The only other time that the United States won its first two World Cup games was in the very first iteration of the tournament, in Uruguay in 1930, when the Americans beat Belgium and Paraguay before being crushed by Argentina.
That was a very long time ago, and in the almost 100 years since, this nation's World Cup progress has been erratic. In the run up to this World Cup, coach Mauricio Pochettino often asked, "Why not us?" Most people smiled when they heard that.
But as the victorious team stood on the field for almost 10 minutes after the game's end and the crowd of 66,925 serenaded them with John Denver's "Country Roads," it felt like this was a real soccer country, with real support and a real home advantage.
"This is a group of guys busting their tails to give belief and create memories," said U.S. midfielder Cristian Roldan. "I think our nation believes right now. I think our locker room does. And I hope the world is seeing that U.S. Soccer is capable of competing."
After two games, it feels like something historic and maybe a little bit magical is happening. And that feeling does not require a warning from the health department.
June 19, 2026
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Ann Killion
Sports Columnist
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This story was originally published June 19, 2026 at 7:16 PM.