FIFA World Cup 2026: US defeat Australia, reach round of 32 without Pulisic; Pochettino says 'If we want to win….'

Published 20 June 2026 · sports

The United States proved they can succeed without Christian Pulisic, defeating Australia 2-0 on Friday to secure a place in the World Cup round of

The United States proved they can succeed without Christian Pulisic, defeating Australia 2-0 on Friday to secure a place in the World Cup round of 32. However, head coach Mauricio Pochettino said he hopes his star player will be fit to return for the team's next match. Pulisic was unavailable for the Group D encounter in Seattle after suffering a calf injury during the Americans' opening victory over Paraguay, leaving the co-hosts without their key attacking threat. Despite his absence, the US delivered a strong performance. They took the lead in the 11th minute when Australia's Cameron Burgess scored an own goal. Alex Freeman then doubled the advantage just before halftime, heading home after a VAR review overturned an initial offside call. What did Pochettino say? Quick answers to key questions • 5 QUESTIONS 1 How did the US team perform without Christian Pulisic against Australia? ⌵ The US team defeated Australia 2-0, demonstrating strong performance despite Pulisic's absence due to a calf injury. 2 What did Mauricio Pochettino say about Pulisic's injury and his importance to the team?

⌵ Pochettino emphasized Pulisic's importance, stating that while the team can succeed without him, they hope to have him back for future matches in the tournament. 3 Why was Alex Freeman's goal allowed after the VAR review during the US vs Australia match? ⌵ Alex Freeman's goal was allowed because he was onside at the moment of the pass, and the VAR review confirmed that offside players did not interfere with the play. 4 What happens next for the US team after their match against Australia? ⌵ The US will face Turkey in their final Group D match, where a win or draw could secure their top position in the group. 5 How did the US team adapt their play style in the absence of Pulisic? ⌵ Without Pulisic, the US team utilized their squad depth to play a mix of physical and possession-based football, showing adaptability in their style. "It's always difficult because we want to have all the players," Pochettino said. "Christian is an important player for us, but...

it was impossible today for him to play. We hope that next game he will be available." The US moved to six points and secured their place in the knockout rounds with one group-stage match still to play. Pochettino said Pulisic remained central to his plans but added that any successful World Cup run would require contributions from the entire squad. "If we want to win the competition, we need the whole team," he said. "All the players need to be important. "Of course, Christian is one of the best players in the world. I hope that he can recover as soon as possible and can enjoy being on the pitch and helping the team." Weston McKennie lauded the depth of the US squad, saying Friday's performance demonstrated the team's ability to adapt and deliver in any situation. Also Read | Why was Alex Freeman's goal allowed to stand after VAR review in USA vs Australi "We can play the physical game because we have guys on the field who are ready to step up for that, and we have guys with quality who can play possession-based football," he said.