Socceroos Stun Hosts USA in World Cup Thriller in Seattle
SEATTLE, WA – In a seismic upset that sent shockwaves through Group D, Australia’s Socceroos defeated co-hosts USA 2-1 in their opening FIFA World Cup 2026 clash at a raucous Lumen Field. A first-half strike from Riley McGree and a decisive second-half penalty from Mat Leckie secured a historic victory for the Australians, silencing a stunned home crowd of nearly 70,000.
The match, played under clear Seattle skies, began with an electric atmosphere, but it was Australia who delivered the early jolt.
First Half: Socceroos Strike First, Stun Silence in Seattle
From the whistle, the USA, buoyed by the deafening home support, pressed high, with Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna looking sharp. However, Australia, disciplined and resolute, absorbed the pressure, showing flashes of danger on the counter.
The breakthrough came in the 22nd minute. A lightning-fast counter-attack saw Nestory Irankunda blaze past Jedi Robinson on the right flank. His pinpoint cross found Riley McGree unmarked in the box, and the midfielder calmly tapped it past Matt Turner, sending the Australian contingent into raptures and plunging Lumen Field into a stunned silence.
The USA responded with increased urgency. Ricardo Pepi came agonizingly close, firing just wide, and Maty Ryan was forced into a brilliant save from a curling Reyna effort. Australia’s defense, marshaled by the towering Harry Souttar, held firm, frustrating the Americans as the half concluded with the Socceroos holding a shock 1-0 lead.
Second Half: Penalty Drama and Late US Push
The second half saw the USA come out with renewed intensity. Coach Gregg Berhalter made an immediate change, bringing on Yunus Musah for Weston McKennie to inject more dynamism into midfield. The pressure paid off in the 58th minute when Antonee Robinson’s surging run into the box was illegally halted. The referee pointed to the spot, and Christian Pulisic stepped up, sending Ryan the wrong way to equalize, igniting the home crowd once more.
However, the parity was short-lived. In the 71st minute, a moment of individual brilliance from Ajdin Hrustic saw him skip past Tyler Adams. As he shaped to shoot, the US captain brought him down just inside the area. Another penalty, this time for Australia. Veteran Mathew Leckie stepped up, coolly slotting the ball into the top corner, restoring Australia’s lead to make it 2-1.
Post-match Injury Report
Twenty-four hours after the final whistle, both camps are assessing the physical toll of such an intense encounter. Reports from the USA camp indicate that midfielder Tyler Adams is undergoing scans for a suspected hamstring strain sustained in the build-up to Australia’s second penalty. His availability for their next group stage fixture against Ghana is now in serious doubt. For Australia, there are minor concerns over striker Mitch Duke, who appeared to be limping slightly in the latter stages of the match. However, initial assessments suggest his issue is more fatigue-related, and he is expected to be fit for their crucial clash against Argentina. The medical teams will continue to monitor both players closely over the coming days.
