Alex Freeman scores, USA beats Australia to advance to World Cup knockout stage
The United States advanced to the World Cup knockout round on Friday with a game to spare after an emphatic 2-0 win over Australia in front of a sellout crowd that rocked Lumen Stadium in Seattle.
It was the first time since 1930 that a U.S. team won consecutive games at a World Cup and one of the heroes of the day was 21-year-old right back Alex Freeman, the youngest player on the U.S. roster, who grew up in Plantation and Parkland and played youth soccer at Weston FC.
With the U.S. leading 1-0 in the 43rd minute, Antonee Robinson sent a free kick to Sergiño Dest, who took a shot from just outside the penalty area. The ball deflected off an Australian defender and into the air, and the 6-3 Freeman showed his leaping ability, heading it past the outstretched arm of goalkeeper Patrick Beach and into the net.
A replay review for offside delayed Team USA’s celebration, but the goal was confirmed, Freeman’s teammates swarmed him.
“It was surreal, knowing that I was able to contribute to my team in any way I can,” Freeman said on the FOX post-game interview. “Obviously, at first, it was disallowed, so I was kind of anxious when it went to VAR.
“When [the goal] was confirmed, I looked back and [my teammates] all started running! I thought, ‘Oh my God, I gotta run away from them! They’re gonna tackle me!’ And then we ended up running to the corner flag, and it was so emotional for me.
“You dream of this moment, and for it to finally happen, and to have such a support system to help you celebrate it, it just means so much!”
Freeman, who plays for Spanish La Liga club Villarreal, is the son of Antonio Freeman, who was an All-Pro wide receiver and member of the 1997 Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers. The younger Freeman played football, basketball and tennis as a child, but fell in love with soccer when his stepfather Jake Hinkle introduced him to the game.
He tried out for the Inter Miami youth academy at age 15 but didn’t make the cut, so he followed his former Weston FC coach Javier Carrillo to the Orlando City academy, wound up on their first team and in January 2026 moved to Villarreal on a $4 million transfer.
Team USA was without captain Christian Pulisic on Friday because of a calf injury, but put high pressure on Australia the entire first half to take a 2-0 lead into intermission.
The first goal came in the 11th minute after U.S. striker Folarin Balogun made a deep run on the left flank, sent a low cross into the box and Australia defender Cameron Burgess inadvertently tapped the ball in for the own goal.
The USA joined Mexico as the second team to book a spot to the knockout round.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino said Pulisic was not quite ready to play, but seemed hopeful he could play in the third group game against Turkey on Thursday in Los Angeles.
“It’s difficult because we want to have all the players; he’s an important player for us, Christian, but that is a team and it was impossible today for him to play,” Pochettino said.
“We hope that for the next game he will be available but if we want to win the competition, we need the whole team and all the players to be important. But of course Christian is one of the best players in the world, and I hope that he can recover as soon as possible and can enjoy being on the pitch and helping the team.”
Fans gathered to watch the game at bars all over South Florida. They left in a good mood.
“I think that is the most complete U.S. team that I’ve ever seen,” said Benito Del Cueto, who watched with his family at Fritz&Franz Bierhaus in Coral Gables. “I think the English and European players on the team are finally connected with each other and we have a very good chance to go a long way in this tournament. I am having the time of my life watching this World Cup. I’m an EPL fan, a Tottenham fan, a Barcelona fan, so this is the best time for me.”
Midfielder Weston McKennie said the Americans are not satisfied yet.
“It’s amazing to know that we’re going through, but we don’t want to just go through, we want to win the group,” he said.
This story was originally published June 19, 2026 at 7:42 PM.