GEM OF A WIN IN EMERALD CITY!
pic.twitter.com/3i3HspeWis— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) June 19, 2026
Posted on 06/19/2026 5:43:30 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
They did it! The USMNT (United States Men's National Team) has won back-to-back contests in its first two matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with a victory on Friday handing the Aussies' Socceroos team a giant goose egg, 2-0, in Seattle. And even more dramatically, they did it without star forward Christian Pulisic.
The U.S. national soccer team advanced to the knockout round at the World Cup despite the absence of injured forward Christian Pulisic, beating Australia 2-0 on Friday.
...
Alex Freeman, the youngest player on the [U.S.] team at 21 and son of Super Bowl champion Antonio Freeman, gave the Americans a 2-0 lead in the 43rd minute off a set piece. Freeman headed in a deflected shot by Sergiño Dest for his first career World Cup goal. The goal was confirmed after a video review.
The U.S. took a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute after a run down the left sideline by Folarin Balogun, who scored two goals in the 4-1 victory over Paraguay on June 12.
Balogun directed a centering pass towards striker Ricardo Pepi, who started in place of Pulisic. The ball never reached Pepi, deflecting off Australia defender Cameron Burgess and into the Socceroos’ net for an own-goal.
The national anthem plays at Seattle Stadium 🇺🇸
Today marks the first-ever FIFA World Cup match in Seattle for the @USMNT pic.twitter.com/BgLRFsUKHr— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 19, 2026
And in case you missed RedState's coverage of the World Cup excitement for the U.S. team up to this point, here's a quick catch-up.
GEM OF A WIN IN EMERALD CITY!
pic.twitter.com/3i3HspeWis— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) June 19, 2026
As Nick Arama wrote about the Game 1 win, the world was put on notice that the Americans have "an emphatic winning force," notching an unimpeachable, 4-1 win over Group D foe, Paraguay, seven days ago inside a rocking SoFi Stadium in L.A.
Read More: Hot Takes: Republicans Root on the US Men's National Soccer Team Ahead of World Cup Start
US Men's Team's First Game in World Cup 2026 Delivers Patriotism, and One Heck of a Win
The Athletic, having a little fun during its preview of the big match this week (in its comprehensive sports newsletter), cheekily spelled out the team's acronym, USMNT, as U.S. Mutant Ninja Turtles.
It's all part of the fun - and what's more fun than winning bigtime on the world stage?
We're watching sports history being made:
It's been 96 years since the U.S. won consecutive games at a World Cup 🤯
pic.twitter.com/bwU5CJlriG— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 19, 2026
Team USA is through to the knockout stage.
The United States secured its place in the next round of the World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Australia in Seattle on Friday, improving to 2-0 through its first two matches of the tournament.
The Americans have now clinched advancement with a game still left to play in the group stage.It's the first time since the inaugural World Cup in 1930 that the United States has won back-to-back World Cup games.
pic.twitter.com/WvGlScQURU— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 19, 2026
Team USA is through to the knockout stage.
The United States secured its place in the next round of the World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Australia in Seattle on Friday, improving to 2-0 through its first two matches of the tournament.
The Americans have now clinched advancement with a game still left to play in the group stage.
It's the first time since the inaugural World Cup in 1930 that the United States has won back-to-back World Cup games.
What's this mean in layman's terms? Now we need to watch for the results of Paraguay vs.Türkiye, to learn how tough the next opponent will be for the USMNT:
The USMNT can win their group if Türkiye don't beat Paraguay.
They would face a third-place team in San Francisco 😎 pic.twitter.com/KKgMZjYQMe— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 19, 2026
U.S. fans in Seattle let the Australians know how things would go with a funny sign:
A USA fan holding a "VEGEMITE FREE ZONE" sign during the USA vs. Australia FIFA World Cup match. 🤔
pic.twitter.com/aOcbOmJ5gZ— World Cup 2026 (@ofootball__) June 19, 2026
There were some fans from the Trump administration in attendance, including HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Energy Sec. Chris Wright, rooting on Team USA:
Honored to join fans from around the world at today’s FIFA match in Seattle with @SecretaryWright. Sports unite people across cultures and borders, inspire teamwork and healthy competition, and strengthen communities.
Go @USMNT! 🇺🇸
pic.twitter.com/3etpykBDKn— Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) June 19, 2026
With the mid-day match taking place during a weekday, many Americans might have missed seeing it. So here's the winning moment.
Watch:
What a match for the @USMNT to advance to the Round of 32 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/TJZYVyClSy— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 19, 2026
Warning, this next clip is total Goosbumps City - I dare you to try not to sing along to this all-American "anthem" by John Denver:
ABSOLUTE GOOSEBUMPS AS THE ENTIRE STADIUM SINGS 'TAKE ME HOME, COUNTRY ROADS' WITH THE USMNT PLAYERS AFTER THE WIN AGAINST AUSTRALIA
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/ATj4OHcEE6— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) June 19, 2026
USA! USA! USA!
[Editor's Note: this article was edited for clarity post-publication.]
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Well, Australia isn’t really a top team.
I’d really be impressed if the USA can win against the top teams — Spain, Germany, England, Brazil or Argentina.
There was an article in the Seattle Times this morning on how some Seattle residents find it hard to root for team USA because of their hatred of President Trump...they (seattle times) got obliterated on social media for it...
USA vs Turkey - World Cup - Match 59 (Group D)
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA
Thu, Jun 25 at 7:00pm
$1971 to $14,604
Brazil won a championship in 2002 but haven't done much since then. France or Argentina, you can bet on them to win it all.
I never cared for soccer. How ever my people emigrated here from Ireland and settled in northeastern New Jersey where Scot, Irish and Italian immigrants have been playing soccer for generations.
My grandfather, father and two older brothers all played.
Australia had beebers?
Well Italy is a top team and they didn’t even qualify to take part.
I saw an article here earlier today that Steak ‘n Shake was offering free shakes if the U.S. beat Australia. The only opportunity I had to eat at a Steak ‘n Shake was when my youngest son was living in Indiana, and I’d visit him. He’s since moved back to this area...central NY State, and we have nothing like Steak ‘n Shake anywhere near us.
Incredible moment.
Let's go Team USA!
Keep bringing home those wins 🇺🇸
20 Cent MILKSHAKES AT STEAK & SHAKE TOMORROW!...................
Good news, that IS cool Good luck guys, hope you get through a round or two. France wins.
Soccer first started getting popular among young people in America starting in the 80’s. Now there are youth teams that travel to other countries to play in tournaments.
I’d expect the USA to become stronger in this sport now that the kids who grew up in the 2000’s and 2010’s are now adults.
Quite a few hosts have won the World Cup. When you think about it for the hosts every game is a home game and for every opponent they face it’s an away game. Not saying the US is going to win it all but that factor exists.
I spent a good part of this afternoon on studying the World Cup and all its rules and processes, or at least a lot of them.
Wow....wow...all I can say is WOW!
Brazil made the semi-Final in 2018 when the World Cup was held in Brazil.
Germany crushed them 7-1. It was over before 30 minutes were played.
Turkey is losing at half-time to Paraguay 1-0 (but Paraguay are down to 10 men), if Turkey doesn’t win tonight, the US wins the Group, which means they probably can rest some players.
Italy has really fallen.
Italy has now failed to qualify for the World Cup for three consecutive tournaments. I think it’s safe to say Italy is no longer a “top team” anymore.
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