International City, Texas-Made Team: USA Punches World Cup Knockout Ticket

SEATTLE — The U.S. Men’s National Team is through to the knockout round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 2-0 victory over Australia at Lumen Field on Friday, June 19 — and the win carried a distinctly Texas signature.

Australia’s Cameron Burgess turned a Folarin Balogun cross into his own net in the 11th minute, with FC Dallas product Ricardo Pepi (El Paso) pressuring in the box. Alex Freeman headed home a second in the 43rd minute — the first World Cup goal by a USMNT defender since 2014.

The Americans controlled the first half with 70 percent possession and 259 accurate passes to Australia’s 78.

The starting XI: Freese; Freeman, Richards, Ream, A. Robinson; Adams, Tillman, McKennie; Dest; Pepi, Balogun. Pulisic missed the match with a calf injury.

FC Dallas quartet

Four players on the 26-man roster trace their roots to the FC Dallas academy: midfielder Weston McKennie (No. 8, Little Elm / Juventus), striker Ricardo Pepi (No. 9, El Paso), defender Chris Richards (No. 3), and winger Alex Zendejas (No. 26, El Paso).

McKennie played the full 96 minutes; Pepi earned his first World Cup start before being substituted in the 74th minute; Richards received a yellow card.

The USMNT opened the tournament with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles.

Richardson, one of North Texas’s most internationally diverse cities, has hosted watch parties for nearly every match day. AT&T Stadium hosts Argentina vs. Austria on June 22.

> "USA beats Australia 2-0 to reach 6 points and clinch a spot in the World Cup knockout round." — @DallasTexasTV on X

> "THE USA HAVE QUALIFIED FOR THE WORLD CUP KNOCKOUTS! USA have defeated Australia 2-0 in Seattle to book their spot." — @SFWFootball on X

On r/Dallas, fans tracked the transit situation, with one user posting: "DFW is showing the world how it’s done."