The Socceroos crashed back down to earth, but Australia’s World Cup dream remains alive despite a disappointing 2-0 loss to the USA in Seattle.
The co-hosts found the back of the net in cruel circumstances for Australia with their goals coming via an own goal and a VAR intervention that left the Socceroos seething.
Paro v Crocker | Wednesday June 24 from 7pm AEST | Aussie Liam Paro gets his long awaited world title shot against IBF welterweight champion Lewis Crocker, plus ex-NRL beasts go to war as Nelson Asofa-Solomona battles George Burgess. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
FULL 2026 WORLD CUP SCHEDULE WITH AUSTRALIAN TIMES AND DATES
TALKING POINTS: Ugly flip side of Popa gambles exposed; changes he must make next
PLAYER RATINGS: Shock Popa changes fall flat as USA run riot before Socceroos prodigy dazzles
SCENARIOS: Who Socceroos can face in knockout stage & why they might’ve already qualified
The loss means Tony Popovic’s side’s final group game against Paraguay is now all important as the Socceroos try to advance to the knockout rounds for the third time in our history.
On a glorious afternoon at what is often regarded as the loudest stadium in America, the home teams quickly drowned out the roughly 10,000 Australians in the stands as the USA made a dream start.
An 11th minute own goal off centre back Cameron Burgess put the Socceroos on the back foot early in the contest.
Grella basks in USA victory vs Socceroos | 00:40
Former Tottenham and Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino’s side burst out of the blocks with the speed of the game notably faster than Australia’s victory against Türkiye.
Florian Balogun, the Arsenal academy product who bagged a brace in the USA’s 4-1 win against Paraguay to start the tournament, made a brilliant run down the left wing and into the box.
His pass across the face of goal then succeeded in clattering into the leg of Burgess and bouncing into the back of the net.
Referee Felix Zwayer struggled to see out the match.Source: AP
Balogun was in the thick of the action again on the stroke of half time as VAR awarded the Americans their second goal.
A free kick was given against Paul Okon-Engstler on the right wing – shortly after the midfielder had been involved in a head clash with Alex Freeman.
Antonee Robinson then played the ball to the top of the box where Sergiño Dest’s powerful shot was deflected.
Australian goalkeeper Patrick Beach was caught out as a result and Freeman pounced to head the ball into the back of the net.
But the linesperson’s flag was raised offside.
Any sighs of relief from the Australians quickly disappeared, however, as VAR intervened to rule that it was Balogun, not Freeman, who was offside and so the goal was allowed.
To rub it in further, the Americans conducted a full length of the pitch celebration with all the substitutes coming off the bench to get involved.
Popovic less than pleased by referee | 04:36
It was a decision which enraged the Socceroos hierarchy with Popovic’s assistant Paul Okon saying at half time that Balogun did impact the play.
“From what we understood, he probably impeded Beachy,” the former Socceroos skipper said of Balogun.
Popovic made a triple change after the half time break to try turn the tide.
Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe, who both scored against Türkiye but were relegated to the bench against the Americans, replaced Mohamed Toure and Nishan Velupillay.
Burgess also made way for Jason Geria as Popovic opted to keep the same shape with five defenders at the back despite needing to chase the game.
Irankunda and Metcalfe were joined in attack on the hour mark by Cristian Volpato after veteran Mathew Leckie left the pitch with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
Suddenly, the Socceroos looked a different team.
Things got heated in the second half.Source: AP
Volpato, who changed his allegiance from Italy to Australia at the death knock before this World Cup, played through Irankunda with his first touch in a World Cup.
The Sydney born and raised winger, who plays in Serie A with Sassuolo, then got a shot away as Irankunda gave the ball back to him in the box, but unfortunately it sailed over the bar.
Australia’s cries for a penalty in that passage of play fell on deaf ears as Metcalfe was clipped in the box and brought down to ground.
The referee was also uninterested when Volpato hit the deck after copping an arm to the face in an off the ball tussle with Antonee Robinson – who already had a yellow card to his name.
Opportunities went begging as the second half went on.
Metcalfe, Volpato and Irankunda were all lively with the latter not shying away from any physicality.
Volpato was a bright spark.Source: AFP
Irankunda and Crystal Palace centre back Chris Richards engaged in several strong challengers with referee Felix Zwayer blowing his whistle so frequently in the final half an hour that he cramped up in stoppage time.
But a golden chance went begging when skipper Harry Souttar had an air swing and fellow defender Geria’s shot was blocked as Australia somehow failed to capitalise on a scramble in the box in the 85th minute.
Slow starts and coming good in the second half has been a frustrating trademark of the Popovic era for the national team and this match was another clear example of it.
In the end, they were simply left with too much to do after defending for almost the entirety of the first half.
With six points in the bag from two games, the USA have already booked their place in the knockouts after winning back-to-back World Cup games for the first time since the inaugural tournament in 1930.
Meanwhile, Australia now waits to see the result of the Türkiye and Paraguay match later this morning to find out exactly what is needed to advance to the Round of 32.