Sports
No Pulisic, no problem: USMNT beat Australia 2-0, win Group D
United States men’s national team players celebrate after beating Australia 2-0 at Seattle Stadium on June 19, 2026. SEATTLE — Mauricio Pochettino’s plan to take the long view to the United States men’s national team’s run at the 2026 World Cup proved wise on Friday.
The U.S. coach kept star Christian Pulisic on the bench against Australia, and his side responded with a 2-0 win over the Socceroos at Seattle Stadium to secure a spot in the knockout round.
When Paraguay defeated Turkey 1-0 late Friday night, the U.S. sealed first place in Group D.
With Pulisic recovering from a calf injury sustained in the opening win over Paraguay, Pochettino opted to start Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi up front. The pair kept constant pressure on Australia, which struggled against the Americans’ speed despite playing five defenders.
It was Balogun who forced the issue with a run down the left wing in the 11th minute. His pass into the six-yard box was intended for Pepi but never reached its target. That’s because Swansea City defender Cameron Burgess got in between, only to have the ball deflect off him and past goalkeeper Patrick Beach.
“(Pochettino has) always given us different ideas to attack. So, to play with Pepi today wasn’t a shock,” said Balogun, who added that he did not know Pulisic’s status until before the match. “It wasn’t like a plan B before CP was out. It didn’t feel like that to me.
“It just felt like another solution to win the game.”
It was the second own goal the Americans have benefited from in as many matches and set the tone for the remainder of the day. The U.S. added a second goal when defender Alex Freeman headed a ball past Beach. Initially ruled offsides, the call was overturned by VAR.
The victory gave the Americans (2-0-0) six points in Group D. By topping the group, the U.S. will play their round-of-32 match in Santa Clara, Calif., on July 1.
Australia (1-1-0) remain in contention to advance with their final group game coming Thursday against Paraguay (1-1-0).
Despite Pulisic being seen at team training on Wednesday, Pochettino said after the game that it was “impossible” for him to play Friday. While saying earlier in the week that Pulisic would face Turkey if he wasn’t able to play against Australia, after the match he offered only that he hopes Pulisic can “help the team as soon as possible.”
For Balogun, Friday continued a torrid start to the World Cup, which began with two goals against Paraguay. He also helped force an own goal in that game, making the United States the first team in World Cup history to benefit from own goals in consecutive games.
Freeman’s third international goal came just minutes after he and Australian midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler were attended to following a head collision. The son of former NFL wide receiver Antonio Freeman, who once scored a touchdown in the same stadium, Alex Freeman admitted he was anxious while waiting for the VAR.
“When it was a goal, I looked back and I saw all my teammates running at me,” Freeman said. “I was like, ‘Oh Lord, now they’re running.’ And then, I ended up running and celebrating with them, and I think it just made me very emotional in the moment.”
Both teams managed only a pair of shots on goal. The Aussies’ first came in the opening minute of play, when Mohamed Toure’s attempt was easily saved by goaltender Matt Freese. The Americans would dominate the remainder of the half.
Australian coach Tony Popovic attempted to switch the flow with a trio of substitutions coming out of halftime. That included removing Toure and playing Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe up top. While the Aussies did apply more pressure on Freese in the second half and created multiple frantic moments in front of the goal, they were unable to find the back of the net.
The U.S. finished with a clear edge in possession at 56%, according to FIFA, while Australia was credited with 33%, and the remainder was contested.
It was also a physical match, with U.S. midfielder Tyler Adams the target of multiple hard tackles in the first half.
“It was a physical game. I don’t think it was anything different than what we expected,” Adams said. “Fouled a couple times, fouled other people a couple times. It’s the nature of the game.
“I think you need to play into it a little bit and understand what the game requires, and that’s what it required today.”
The tone was set early for a match that saw 28 combined fouls and seven yellow cards.
“Very physical, a lot of challenges,” Balogun said. “I think the referee did his best to try and contain it, but this is a World Cup. So it’s expected for the passion to sometimes spill over. But I think we kept our cool, and it was a really professional performance from us.”
The U.S. have now won games in front of partisan crowds in Los Angeles and Seattle, and will return to L.A. to face Turkey. Friday’s game included a helicopter flyover and a vibrant crowd in the home of MLS’ Seattle Sounders, whose fans are known to stand for the entirety of matches.
“I’m just so happy they were able to come out and to be able to kind of have that atmosphere,” Freeman said. “And kind of sing those songs that calm and make us, you know, kind of accept the fact that we’re here and we have such an amazing thing to do. And now we have more stuff to do.”
And even though first place in Group D is now clinched, work remains to be done ahead of the knockout round.
“We kind of need to put a 24-hour rule on things,” Adams said. “Enjoy the moment. Enjoy your time with the families. Disconnect a little bit. And then when it’s time to work, we got to go back to work.
“Another important game against Turkey. And I feel like in my head, it’s like, ‘Do the job.’ Focus on the next one until you’re out of games to play, because then you did something right.”
–Derek Harper, Field Level Media
Sports
Surging Marlins win back-and-forth battle with Giants
Jun 19, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins right fielder Owen Caissie (17) celebrates a home run against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images Rookie Owen Caissie went 3-for-3 with three RBIs as the host Miami Marlins defeated the San Francisco Giants 4-3 on Friday night.
The Marlins are 12-4 this month, giving them MLB’s best record so far in June. Overall, Miami has reached .500 at 38-38.
It was a bullpen day for the Marlins, who used eight pitchers. Their sixth pitcher, Cade Gibson (1-0), earned the win, retiring all five batters he faced.
Caissie showed his versatile offensive game with a 401-foot solo homer to center in the first; a 5-foot bunt single in the third; an RBI chopper double over the first-base bag in the fifth; and a 330-foot, go-ahead sacrifice fly in the seventh.
Rafael Devers led the Giants’ offense with a homer, his 11th of the season.
Giants starter Landen Roupp, who hasn’t won a game since April 26, pitched well but was left with a no-decision. The right-hander struck out seven in six innings, allowing just two runs. However, he is now 0-6 with three no-decisions over his past nine starts.
Miami scored in the first as Caissie connected on a 2-1 cutter that was low in the zone.
San Francisco opened the second with three straight singles before Daniel Susac nearly hit a grand slam, settling for a 376-foot sacrifice fly that was caught at the top of the left field fence by Kyle Stowers.
Miami escaped further damage when former Marlins infielder Luis Arraez bounced into a double play.
The Marlins went back on top, 2-1, in the fifth as Javier Sanoja doubled and scored on Caissie’s chopper.
San Francisco took its only lead in the sixth. Devers tied it with a 413-foot bomb to right-center. Jung Hoo Lee then scorched a double (104 mph) and scored on Casey Schmitt’s bloop single.
Miami went back on top, 4-3, in the seventh. The rally started when reliever Sam Hentges (1-2) hit a batter, Esteury Ruiz. Sanoja then singled, and Liam Hicks followed with an RBI single. Caissie put Miami on top with his sacrifice fly.
Pete Fairbanks pitched a scoreless ninth, earning his 10th save of the season and No. 100 for his career.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Kiki Iriafen, Mystics rally to end Liberty's 8-game winning streak
Jun 19, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Washington Mystics center Shakira Austin (0) shoots the ball while defended by New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images Kiki Iriafen scored nine of her 20 points in the final four minutes as the Washington Mystics roared back from an eight-point deficit to stun the host New York Liberty 86-83 on Friday.
The Mystics snapped the Liberty’s eight-game winning streak and earned their first victory over New York since the last day of the 2023 regular season. The Liberty had won 10 straight in the series.
All five starters finished in double figures for Washington (7-7). Sonia Citron had 16 points, Shakira Austin scored 14, Michaela Onyenwere contributed 11 and Georgia Amoore tallied 10 for the Mystics, who have won three of their past four. Amoore and Citron each dished out eight assists.
New York (11-5) was led by Leonie Fiebich, who had 19 points, including three 3-pointers. Breanna Stewart (16 points, 10 rebounds) and Jonquel Jones (10 points, 10 rebounds) each logged double-doubles for the Liberty.
The Mystics shot 32 free throws compared to 20 for New York. The game featured 19 ties and 12 lead changes.
New York took a 77-69 lead on a driving layup by Jones with 4:01 to go. The Mystics, who have the WNBA’s youngest team, responded with a 14-4 run and took the lead on a pair of Citron free throws with 1:09 remaining.
The Liberty’s Satou Sabally (13 points) tied the game at 83 by hitting two free throws with 48.6 seconds left. On the next possession with the shot clock running down, Citron lofted a pass to Iriafen, who laid it in with 26.9 seconds to go.
Iriafen made one of two free throws with 11.8 seconds after Stewart missed on a hook shot.
The Liberty called timeout to advance the ball past half-court. Sabrina Ionescu took a long 3-point attempt that missed. Fiebich grabbed the rebound and fed Sabally outside the arc, but Sabally’s shot was short at the buzzer.
There were eight ties in the first quarter as the teams continued to match one impressive shot-making feat with another.
Washington had the game’s first surge with a 9-4 run — with eight of the points coming from Citron — to grab a 32-27 lead with 6:57 left in the half. The Liberty answered with a 12-2 run to go up 39-34. New York held a 43-39 edge at halftime.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Matheus Cunha's brace carries Brazil to 3-0 rout of Haiti
June 19, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.; Brazil’s Vinicius Junior reacts. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images PHILADELPHIA — Matheus Cunha rewarded manager Carlo Ancelotti’s confidence with his first two World Cup goals as Brazil cruised to a 3-0 victory over Haiti on Friday, a result that was tempered only by Raphinha’s early injury exit.
Vinicius Junior also scored and was the creator on both of Cunha’s tallies.
An apparent leg injury forced Raphinha out in the 40th minute.
Overall, it was a much-improved effort from the Selecao’s 1-1 draw against Morocco to open the tournament and a result that puts Brazil (1-0-1, 4 points) above the Atlas Lions in Group C on goal differential.
Haiti (0-2-0, 0 points) became the first team eliminated from the World Cup with the loss and Morocco’s 1-0 win over Scotland earlier Friday.
Even so, they clearly enjoyed their second appearance at the tournament and first since 1974, and despite a lineup that suggested a low block, showed admirable endeavor before a vocal red-and-blue-clad minority.
Center back Ricardo Ade came closest to scoring for the Caribbeans after halftime when his flashing, near-post header from a corner forced Alisson into a strong reaction save.
Cunha was one of two changes by Ancelotti, slotted in for Igor Thiago at center forward. With the Manchester United man involved, the Brazilian attack looked much more connected than six days prior, albeit against a lesser opponent.
Eventually, they punished the Haitians’ enthusiasm after a bright first 15 minutes from the underdogs.
On Brazil’s first goal, Vinicius cut inside from the left and snapped a shot that Haitian goalkeeper Johny Placide could only parry with a strong palm.
Center back Hannes Delcroix attempted to clear the danger, but Cunha pressured and ultimately forced the ball across the line in the 23rd minute for just his second career goal for the Selecao.
That connection again surfaced in the 36th minute on a counterattack stemming from a Haitian turnover.
Vinicius slipped a ball into the path of Cunha’s well-timed diagonal run, and while Cunha appeared to stumble, he still struck a strong finish into the top corner as Placide leaned in the wrong direction.
It wasn’t clear what led to Raphinha dropping to his haunches moments after the second goal, on a night when he had one apparent early goal ruled offside and another glaring miss nullified by a raised flag.
Vinicius’ tally came just before the halftime whistle when he ran onto Lucas Paqueta’s ball over the top and finished low past the charging Placide.
–Ian Nicholas Quillen, Field Level Media
Surging Marlins win back-and-forth battle with Giants
Kiki Iriafen, Mystics rally to end Liberty's 8-game winning streak
