Group D’s first round winners match of United States vs Australia kind of lived up to the hype with lots of action, a few moments of controversy, lot of physical action, all of which the united State got the better of winning 2-0 and essentially sealing top spot of the group. They didn’t have it their own way for the whole game, but Australia did make it easier on them in the first half, with possibly not the best team named and an early own goal doesn’t help. The second goal for the US had a tinge of offside about it, but the video boffins said it was fine. All in all United States deserved the win, but they also had enough rub of the green not to get too over the top.
The Premium Match Centre Review has the bits and pieces and minutes that mattered during the game, to provide you with as much information as you need in one minute, or at least allow you to fast forward the SBS coverage.
Setting the scene.
The big game of the day is United States vs Australia from Group D. The hosts United States are coming into this game on the back of a super performance against Paraguay in their first match at this World Cup dismissing any worries about the pressure of being hosts of the tournament. Australia surprised many in the first World Cup game, especially opponents Turkey who were very surprised at the 2-0 loss. The Socceroos did extremely well holding off Turkey in the first game, but the United States looked another step up on that in their game, so could be too hot to handle. We will soon find out.
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1st Min – An early chance for the Socceroos as the US defence misplaces a pass, Mohamed Touré is onto and has a crack from the right of the post on a tight-ish angle and is well saved. Nice early chance to settle the nerves for Australia.
5th Min – First meaningful attack from the United States wasn’t overly threatening – a cross into penalty area traffic – and ends in a free kick to Australia. The US do look sharp in attacking build up though.
9th Min – US shot blocked by Australia, and that one would have hurt, it was like a rocket, but being an Australian football player he stays on his feet and asks for another. Almost like Happy Gilmore with the baseballs in the movie.
11th Min – GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL
The United States have taken the lead. A run down the left by Folarin Balogun see the US forward put in a low cross in the 6 yard area and sadly it is met by Cameron Burgess tracking back and his deft touch is too good for his own keeper and so good for the United States.
UNITED STATES 1 AUSTRALIA 0
14th Min – Australia are responding well and go on the attack themselves. The end result is a shot that goes a little high and wide.
17th Min – Foul against Australia’s Jordan Bos, for pushing a US attacker in the face as he tries to get past. Possibly not something to try again, as it earned him a yellow card. The subsequent free kick isn’t too threatening and ends up well over the bar.
21st Min – A looming ball forward from the United States reaches the penalty area with an awkward bounce and chasing US forwards but Patrick Beach is up to the task, of course he is.
22nd Min – Good attack from Australia with a dangerous cross just met in time by the US defence, not war for the record, and a corner is earned. A second is earned too, but given away due to wrestling in the area.
With all that, an ad break, I mean hydration break has been called. United States on top to a degree, a goal helps, but Australia holding their own.
32nd Min – Classic World Cup moment, Australia defender has his shirt grabbed, US attacker falls over, Australian player yellow carded. The following free kick just outside the penalty area doesn’t amount to much, nor did it deserve to.
38th Min – Big clash of players with one down on either side. Looks to be an old fashioned head clash, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see if VAR are going to spoil the party. Vaseline being applied to the back of Paul Okon-Engstler’s head, so definitely some decent contact. But like a true Anac hero he plays on for the good of the nation.
43rd Min – US in a good attacking area in the corner but Australia up to the task, and a 20 second almost wrestling bout takes place, but this has actual contact. Players fall to the ground and Australia blamed and penalised.
44th Min – US Goooooooooooaaaaaaaa…..nooooooooooooooooooo. The free kick from the wrestling sees the ball go to the edge of the area, and it is drilled in by the US attacker. Beach is up to the task initially, but the ball bounces up high which gives time for the US attackers to get in position and they do and head it into the goal away from Beach. The flag goes up for offside and Australia are saved…..for now.
The referee indicates that VAR is checking the goal, and after a very painful delay, the referee announces the US players were no longer offside and the goal will stand.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
The offside is overruled by VAR, another reason to dislike it. The US celebrate a key goal being scored just before half time. It is hard to see Australia coming back from 2-0.
UNITED STATES 2 AUSTRALIA 0
45th Min +5 – One last chance for the US to make Australia’s day truly miserable is well saved, and half time awaits.
Half time whistle blows and United States on top with the score and in general to be fair. Australia aren’t playing too badly, and the US goals have both had a touch of luck, well a big touch of luck for the first, but 2-0 looks too hard for Australia to come back from given the US advantage.
HALF TIME – UNITED STATES 2 AUSTRALIA 0
46th Min – With a game to be won, or goal difference to be reduced, Australia has sent on two heroes from the first game – Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe.
51st Min – The first meaningful attack in what feels like an hour for Australia ends up being a breakaway for the United States – Folarin Balogun is sprinting away down the middle of the pitch, looking for a 1-1 with the Australian keeper, but he is being escorted by an Australian defender and they get in the way enough of the shot and it bounces over the bar for a corner. Which was dangerous enough but thankfully not met by a US player this time.
54th Min – This coverage is getting worse than Formula 1 with the crosses to people in the crowd. Nothing like watching what we presume is a famous person looking at their phone while a World Cup game is going on. Even if it is boring football, it’s better than an influencer.
55th Min – A yellow card for a US player Antonee Robinson as Aussie player Italiano goes down. Referee must have thought it was worth yellow as the Australian player stayed down.
62nd Min – Proper chance for Australia. The newly subbed duo involved. Nestory Irankunda attacks down the right, and passes inside to Connor Metcalfe who has a shot that goes high and wide. Meanwhile in the background a chasing Australian attacker is wiped out and falls over in the area. Nothing comes of that. But maybe something coming in general for Australia who are showing some much better signs since the break.
64th Min – Some very ordinary defending from the US sees another opportunity. The ball falls to Metcalfe on the edge of the area and his shot is a little predictable and straight at the keeper. Moments later another attack is stopped by the US through the use of barrelling over Nestory Irankunda before he could get the ball. Effective but questionable.
An ad break, sorry Hydration break has been called, and sort-of bad timing for Australia who are starting to get some real momentum in attack. They are starting to look well capable of a sneaky goal here.
74th Min – This game is getting a lot more physical, a lot more wrest-ly, which will probably suit the Australians who love a good scuffle, although I’d be worried about the level of gun ownership in the US. But physicality is all good and well, Australia needs goals. But are certainly working on that.
Whilst the boffins look for a potential US handball, Jackson Irvine comes on for Australia.
Meanwhile an Australian hits the floor holding his face, US’ Antonee Robinson is involved which usually isn’t interesting, but he is already on a yellow card. The boffins Sgt Schults it and we all move on.
82nd Min – Australia really on top here, with a dangerous cross, and corner opportunities not far apart all wasted a little. But Australia push on, US under massive pressure.
85th Min – Oh dear, how did the Aussies miss? Australia on the attack lob balls either side of the goal and then eventually pass one back into the middle on the 6 yard line, Harry Soutar is right there at the right time and it only needs contact to go goalward and he misses it. This is after a relentless period inside the US half, including some really nice work by Nestory Irankunda.
87th Min – Another half chance sent well over the bar, which is all well and good for rugby league, and to a lesser degree Rugby Union, but no help for the Socceroos.
88th Min – Scuffles breaking out everywhere and yellow cards handed out in response. The latest and best so far is between Souttar and Balogun. Not long after Italiano gets one for what replays show was pushing a US player over for no reason. Sounds like a good reason to us.
90th Min – A promising attack for Australia with some lovely skills on show from Volpato ends with a disappointing cross and equally disappointing end result as the ball sails out.
90th Min +3 – It’s been a tough game in the US sun. Referee is now on the ground with cramp. An Australian player helps initially and then his FIFA friends. Wonder if he’ll have to stay off the field for a time after going down. Hopefully not, it’s become a little Wild West recently.
90th Min +6 – A US counter attack, which could be an ultimate FU to Australia is snuffed out by offside and a swarm of five Australian defenders.
FULL TIME – UNITED STATES 2 AUSTRALIA 0
Like the John West of Football stats, The Gurgler trawled the internet to find the quickest, easiest stats just for you. To give you just the taste of stats you need to impress friends and/or family.
BEST OF STATS
Going back to 2002, USA have lost just two of 17 games v Asian nations including Australia – W13 D2 L2.
Australia have made 580 combined passes in two games so far in this World Cup, 6 sides had more passes alone in Round 1.
REST OF STATS
The two winners from Group D’s opening fixtures meet in a game that’s even bigger now that it was pre-tournament. The Untied States were highly impressive in their 4-1 thrashing of Paraguay in their first game, but Australia were had equal levels of impressive-ness after their first game for very different reasons. The United States attack looked sublime and capable of troubling many defences at this World Cup. Although, Australia’s resolve against Turkey to keep them to nil, and the sensational performance of the Australian keeper Beach means the USA won’t have it all their own way. This 2026 FIFA World Cup Group D United States v Australia Match Centre will provide an overview of the before and after with a Pre-Game Summary, Match Review and Post-Match stats.
United States vs Australia Preview
STATS SUMMARY
RATINGS
The Gurgler’s in-house Ratings system chooses the winner.
| United States | 53.0% | Australia | 47.0% |
The ratings has this closer than one would normally think, just outside our tolerance for a draw.
BARELY INTERESTING STATS
This is Australia’s first ever game v a CONCACAF nation at a World Cup.
Australia have won three of their last four World Cup games with the only loss a 2022 1-2 defeat to winners Argentina.
United States have one of every result in three games v Asian Confederation teams, e.g. W1 D1 L1.
Going back to 1997, Australia have lost just three of their last 16 games v CONCACAF nations – W10 D3 L3. Their most recent game was a 1-0 loss to Mexico just before this tournament.
Going back to 2002, USA have lost just two of 16 games v Asian nations including Australia – W12 D2 L2.
USA’s four goals in their last World Cup match bettered the three they scored in four games at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
MATCH PREDICTION
UNITED STATES 2 AUSTRALIA 1
