USA March Into World Cup Knockouts Despite Pulisic Absence
2 min read
By Sedara Philip
The United States booked their place in the knockout rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a convincing 2-0 victory over Australia, proving their strength and depth despite being without injured star forward Christian Pulisic.
The win ensured the Americans secured qualification from Group G with one match still to play, marking a historic achievement. It is the first time the United States have advanced to the World Cup knockout stage after only two group matches.
Their previous best performance as tournament hosts came in 1994 when they progressed as one of the best third-placed teams before eventually losing to Brazil in the Round of 16.
Heading into the encounter, there were concerns over the absence of Pulisic, who was sidelined with a calf injury. The AC Milan attacker, who has scored 33 goals in 87 appearances for the national team, has long been one of the USA’s most influential players. However, Mauricio Pochettino’s side demonstrated they are far from a one-man team.
The breakthrough arrived early in the 11th minute. Folarin Balogun, fresh from scoring twice in the Americans’ opening 4-1 victory over Paraguay, delivered a dangerous ball across the box that was inadvertently turned into his own net by Australian defender Cameron Burgess, giving the USA a deserved 1-0 lead.
The Americans continued to control proceedings and doubled their advantage just before halftime. Twenty-one-year-old Alex Freeman, the youngest player in the squad and son of former Super Bowl champion Antonio Freeman, rose highest to head home a deflected Sergino Dest effort in the 43rd minute.
After a brief VAR review, the goal was confirmed, handing the young defender his first-ever World Cup goal and putting the USA firmly in command.
Since taking charge in August 2025, head coach Mauricio Pochettino has repeatedly highlighted the importance of squad depth and collective responsibility. Following the victory, the Argentine tactician praised his players for stepping up in the absence of their star man.
“No player is bigger than the team. We have a group that believes in each other, and tonight we showed that,” Pochettino said.
The result guarantees the United States a place in the Round of 16 and underlines their growing confidence as one of the tournament hosts.
Attention now turns to their final Group G fixture against Tunisia on June 23, where a positive result could secure top spot in the group.
While qualification has already been achieved, the fitness of Christian Pulisic remains a key concern for the Americans. The forward’s availability for the knockout rounds is still uncertain, but if this performance is any indication, the USA possess the depth and resilience needed to continue their World Cup journey regardless of who is on the pitch.
Sedara Philip is a Sports writer, an administrator,Journalist,and editor
