Australia’s World Cup campaign hit a speed bump in Seattle on Friday night, with the Socceroos falling 2-0 to the United States in a Group D clash. Coach Tony Popovic didn’t mince words about the officiating afterward.
“I think today was, I wouldn’t say the best day for the referee,” Popovic told reporters in his post-match press conference.
A tale of two halves of the group stage
The loss stings particularly because Australia had opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup with a convincing 2-0 victory over Turkiye. Friday’s match told a different story.
The US, Canada, and Mexico are sharing hosting duties for the 2026 tournament, meaning the Americans had the full weight of a home crowd behind them in Seattle.
