Di United States don defeat Australia 2-0 for di 2026 World Cup, as di co-hosts show strong form for dia opening match. Di game wey happen for Los Angeles see di US team control play from start to finish, with Australia struggling to create clear chances.
Some skittish USA defending give Australia some encouragement and a corner on di left. But nothing come from am immediately, as a goalmouth scramble wey dey slightly desperate for di co-hosts end when referee give foul against Australia.
Dest and Robinson, both wey don play well today, dem comot. Robinson dey on a yellow card, so di change make sense. Trusty and Scally come in for USA. Two more subs dey come.
Australia make change too, with Jackson Irvine replacing Paul Okon-Engstler. Den di game get small stramash as Volpato go down for touchline, but Robinson barely touch am, so di game continue.
Berhalter come in for Pepi as Pochettino make change. There be no love lost here, with some niggling afters wey dey creep into di game.
Irankunda chase down Ream, just barge into am after he release di ball. E dey petty, but e dey within di game.
A welcome chance for di players to down some Gatorade with electrolytes. With di game under control and a tough match against Turkey to come, maybe Pochettino go start to consider taking off Balogun and others.
Australia make another change, with Cristian Volpato on to replace Mathew Leckie, wey appear to get hamstring problem. Volpato den dey at fault as he scoop a shot over di bar when he fit don hit target from Australia best chance of di match.
Leckie, wey dey im fourth World Cup, dey down with injury, so we get brief pause. Australia dey defend more obdurately here for di second half. When dem no get ball, di USA stay compact but find legs to close down opponents when e matter.
Antonee Robinson go into di book for US after Australia get corner.
Meanwhile, for different news, Antonio Freeman, former Green Bay Packers receiver, don see im son Alex Freeman make USMNT World Cup squad. Alex, wey be defender, dey expect to play key role for di tournament.
Antonio confess say im no know much about soccer when Alex start to play, but based on reactions of others, im know say Alex dey do something right. “E almost mesmerising to go to im soccer games and just every other word from all di kids was ‘Freeman, Freeman, Freeman’,” Antonio tok for interview with ESPN.
Alex Freeman born on Aug. 8, 2005, during di NFL season of im papa nine-year career, eight wey im spend with Packers. E include back-to-back Super Bowl appearances for 1996 and 1997 seasons, plus several famous plays wey land am for Packers Hall of Fame.
E for natural for Alex to follow im papa footstep onto football field, and e do am until e discover soccer. But even den, Alex no sure wetin to do. “I had my doubts when I first chose soccer,” Alex tok. “In my heart, I wanted to continue playing football, but I knew if I wanted to be di best, I must limit my concentration to soccer.”
Antonio, for im heart, always know say im son go eventually choose soccer. “I had dreams of coaching am for football and basketball and showing am how to shoot 3-pointer, make pump fake and different things,” Antonio tok. “But im joy dey on dat soccer field, and when e become teenager, e just play more and more soccer.”
But e no clear immediately say Alex make di right call. Despite im proficiency on soccer pitch, e no take off on national level right away. Alex join Orlando City Academy team and play for dia U17 squad and den Orlando City B wey dey play for MLS Next Pro league.
Alex career take off for early 2025 when e move up to Orlando City MLS roster. As right back, e make MLS All-Star team, MLS All-Star Skills Challenge and dem name am MLS Best XI dat year. E make im USMNT debut for 2025 and appear for Gold Cup later dat year. At age 20, e be di youngest player on di team.
Earlier dis year, e make several appearances for national team, but im spot for World Cup team no solidify until last month. Di Freemans dey together for Spain when Alex get di word, wey come as video message from national team manager Mauricio Pochettino. “My dad get to see am for first time and start going crazy,” Alex tok.
To Antonio, e top even di day dem draft am for Round 3 by Packers for 1995. “Man, dat was amazing personal moment for me to get drafted,” Antonio tok. “But I always want see other guys be successful too, and I’m definitely dat way about my kids. You always want see your kids do better and reach di heights and pro sports and pro football wey I reach.”
While soccer be im life, Alex no stray too far away from game of American football. When ask to describe im style of play, e use NFL player as comparison. “I’m kind of a guy wey like to join di attack but also wey can defend really well,” Alex tok. “I’m kind of dat guy wey can be very versatile for dat right-side position. If I had to compare dat to football, e go be Travis Hunter.”
Alex be Packers fan and don make several trips to Lambeau Field when im papa return for alumni functions. While e never see Antonio play in person, e no get doubt say im papa career for NFL help am become wetin e be for soccer. “I think e just habits,” Alex tok. “I feel like being around am so much, my habits as a professional I’ve had since I was younger.”
