The United States became the latest nation to book a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 after an impressive Day 9 of action that also saw Brazil and Morocco record important victories, while Türkiye and Haiti became the latest teams eliminated from the tournament.
Playing without injured captain Christian Pulisic, the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) delivered a composed performance to defeat Australia 2-0 in their Group D clash. The Americans established a two-goal cushion before halftime and comfortably saw out the victory to strengthen their position at the top of the group.
The result, combined with Paraguay’s shock 1-0 victory over Türkiye later in the evening, confirmed the United States’ qualification for the knockout rounds and guaranteed them first place in Group D.
Paraguay stunned the Turks after scoring barely a minute into the contest before producing a disciplined defensive display to preserve their lead. The defeat condemned Türkiye to a fourth-place finish and an early exit from the competition.
In Group C, Morocco continued their impressive campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over Scotland. Ismael Saibari scored the decisive goal just 70 seconds into the encounter, giving the Atlas Lions a valuable three points.
Brazil also made a strong statement as they swept aside Haiti 3-0. Matheus Cunha starred with a first-half brace, while Vinicius Junior added another as the five-time world champions secured their first win of the tournament in commanding fashion.
The defeat ensured Haiti became one of the first teams eliminated from the World Cup, ending their historic campaign after back-to-back losses.
Alex Freeman Continues Rapid Rise
One of the standout stories for the United States has been the emergence of 21-year-old defender Alex Freeman.
The young star, who has quickly established himself as a key figure in the national team setup, continued his impressive development with another influential display against Australia.
Freeman’s rise from international newcomer to regular starter in little over a year has provided the Americans with renewed confidence as they prepare for the knockout rounds.
USMNT Through to Round of 32
The United States will now turn their attention to the Round of 32, where they are scheduled to play on July 1 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Unlike previous World Cup campaigns where qualification often came down to dramatic final-day scenarios, the Americans have secured progression with a match to spare, underlining the growing maturity and depth within the squad.
With Mexico already through and the United States now joining them in the knockout phase, North American fans have plenty to celebrate as the tournament heads toward its decisive stages.
Group C Results
Morocco 1-0 Scotland
Brazil 3-0 Haiti
Group D Results
United States 2-0 Australia
Paraguay 1-0 Türkiye
