Australia coach Tony Popovic took aim at the officiating after the Socceroos went down 2-0 to co-hosts United States in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D fixture, a result that sent the Americans into the Round of 32. The USA became the second side after Mexico to confirm a knockout-stage berth, winning both their group matches to sit on six points at the top of Group D. Australia stayed on three points following the defeat.
“I think today was, I wouldn’t say the best day for the referee,” Popovic told reporters after the match, according to Fox Sports. His criticism centred on the United States’ second goal, scored in the 43rd minute by Alex Freeman, son of former NFL player Antonio Freeman. Freeman headed in from a free-kick situation in a goal initially flagged for offside, only for VAR to overturn the call and let it stand. Australian players protested that their goalkeeper had been impeded or that an offside infringement had taken place, but the decision held, handing the hosts a two-goal cushion before the break.
Tempers flared late in the game when Australia’s Harry Souttar clashed with American forward Folarin Balogun. Referee Felix Zwayer stepped in and booked Balogun, Souttar and Australia’s Jacob Italiano to calm things down. Australia ended the match with four yellow cards to the USA’s three. Zwayer himself became a talking point late on when he appeared to cramp up and briefly went down on the pitch, with players from both sides helping the 45-year-old German official before play resumed.
Popovic, however, didn’t pin the result solely on the officiating. He admitted his side had been second-best for long stretches and pointed to a slow start as the key factor. “I don’t know if it’s the occasion, but we looked sluggish, heavy-legged … They won every duel, they won every second ball, and when you do that, it makes it very difficult to gain any momentum. And then we conceded two soft goals,” he said.
“When you think, you know, this noise here, host nation, I think the players show how good they are in the second half, but obviously at this level, you can’t give away that much in the first,” he added.
The result leaves the United States clear at the top of Group D on six points. Australia sit second on three, while a 1-0 win for Paraguay over Turkey keeps the group finely balanced heading into the final round of fixtures.
