Hmdesktop

USMNT Meets Australia With Group D Top Spot at Stake

Sport
June 16, 2026
Pop-art illustration of a stadium silhouette and soccer ball in Lines.com editorial style

USMNT vs Australia decides World Cup Group D first place on June 19 in Seattle. Both nations hold three points. The winner tops the group.

Group D Comes Down to a Seattle Showdown

The USMNT opened the 2026 World Cup with a 4-1 win over Paraguay on June 12. Folarin Balogun scored twice for the USMNT in the first half. Australia beat Turkiye 2-0 on the same opening matchday. Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe scored Australia’s two goals. Both results landed inside Group D of the 2026 World Cup.

Folarin Balogun leads the USMNT scoring chart with two goals at the 2026 World Cup. Christian Pulisic captains the USMNT attack from the wing. Weston McKennie drives the USMNT midfield through Group D. Australia answers with Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe on the scoresheet.

The USMNT leads Group D on goal difference at plus three. Australia holds second place at plus two. Both teams earned three points from one match each. Paraguay sits last in Group D with zero points. Balogun’s first-half brace gave the USMNT a two-goal cushion by the break.

The USMNT plays the 2026 World Cup on home soil as a co-host nation. The June 19 match runs at Lumen Field in Seattle. Mauricio Pochettino coaches the USMNT through this Group D finale. Seattle midfielder Cristian Roldan could feature inside his Sounders home stadium.

Equal points after June 19 would keep the USMNT first on goal difference. A win would lock the USMNT into first place in Group D. Australia can climb to the top with a victory in Seattle. Paraguay needs results elsewhere to chase a third-place qualifying spot.

The top two teams in Group D reach the 2026 World Cup knockout round. The third-place team can still advance among the top eight of twelve. Finishing first would seed the USMNT as a Group D winner. The USMNT reached the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Kickoff for USMNT vs Australia is set for June 19 at Lumen Field. Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun anchor the USMNT attack. Australia leans on Nestory Irankunda after his goal against Turkiye. Group D order will be settled by full time in Seattle.

Related Sports Coverage

Sources: ESPN and US Soccer confirmed the Group D standings and the June 19 schedule. Yahoo Sports reported the three-point tracker for the USMNT and Australia.