They won without their biggest star. Now the U.S. men are headed to the World Cup knockouts.
A 2**-**0 victory over Australia in Seattle secures a spot in the round of 32 despite Christian Pulisic sitting out with an injury.
When your best player cannot walk onto the field, fear usually takes over.
But this team proved they do not need a savior to survive on the world stage.
The U.S. men's national soccer team beat Australia 2-0 today in Seattle.
The big win means they move on to the next round of the World Cup.
They did this without Christian Pulisic, their top star.
He has a hurt calf and could not play.
An early goal went off an Australian player into his own net.
Then, Alex Freeman scored with a header to seal the game.
The play got rough late, but the U.S. held on to win.
What the match data shows
- The final score was 2-0 in favor of the U.S.
- This is the second straight win for the U.S. team at this World Cup.
- Alex Freeman scored one goal with a header.
- The U.S. previously beat Paraguay 4-1 last week.
- A tie or win by Paraguay against Turkey today seals the top spot in Group D.
The Bigger Question
We often build up single stars in American sports.
We act as if one player makes or breaks a whole country.
But does this win prove the U.S. is finally a deep team, or did they just get lucky against a weaker opponent?
The Other Side
Australia fought hard and kept the game close until the final minutes.
They might argue the own goal was a fluke that changed the entire mood of the match.
Still, the scoreboard shows they failed to put a single ball in the net.
The defense from the U.S. looked too strong for Australia's argument to hold much weight.
What Happens Now
The U.S. team moves to the round of 32.
Fans can plan for at least one more big game.
This win keeps the soccer dream alive for millions of kids watching at home.
What We Still Don't Know
- When will Christian Pulisic be healthy enough to play again?
- Can the U.S. defense hold up against stronger teams in the next round?
- Will Paraguay help the U.S. clinch the top spot in Group D later today?
Transparency notes
Published: Jun 19, 2026. No major post-publication update has been logged.
Spot an error or missing context? Email hi@kindjoe.com and we will review and correct if needed.
Sources
External source links were not provided in this article body. Our editors reference publicly available materials and update stories as new verified information arrives.