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Is the United States going all the way? On Friday he took a big step forward by winning Group D.
The Americans became the second team to clinch their group at the 2026 World Cup. Mexico won Group A on Thursday night and the United States sealed Group D with its victory over Australia and Türkiye’s surprising loss to Paraguay.
Elsewhere, two potential contenders earned their first wins of the tournament in Group C.
Here’s everything you might have missed on Day 9 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup:
United States vs. Australia
- The United States won back-to-back men’s World Cup matches for the second time and first since its first two all-time matches in the tournament in 1930, which was the first World Cup in history. This is also the second time the United States has won two group stage matches in a single World Cup.
- The United States became the first team in World Cup history to benefit from an own goal in two consecutive games. This was the first time in the modern era (since 1990) that the United States benefited from an own goal in consecutive matches (all competitions).
- The United States is the second World Cup host country to score a goal in the first 15 minutes of each of its first two games in that year’s competition, joining France in 1938, according to OPTA.
- Christian Pulisic did not play against Australia. The US is now 44W-16E-15P when not playing since its US debut in 2016, and is 45W-16E-26P when it does.
- Chris Richards has completed 97.8% of his passes in the FIFA World Cup (175 of 179). This is the second-best accuracy by a player in his first two appearances on record since 1966 (min. 100 passes), behind Romania’s Gheorghe Popescu in 1994, when he was 122 of 124 (98.4%), according to OPTA.
Scotland against Morocco
- Morocco is unbeaten in its last six World Cup group stage matches (3W-3D-0L) and has not lost any since June 20, 2018, a 1-0 loss to Portugal.
- Ismael Saibari scored in his second consecutive World Cup match. He is only the second African player to score in his first two World Cup appearances, joining Egypt’s Mohamed Salah. He also became the first Moroccan player to score in consecutive World Cup matches.
- Saibari scored in the first two minutes of the game. It is the fastest goal that Morocco has scored in its World Cup history.
- Morocco completed 601 passes against Scotland, the most recorded by an African team in a World Cup match since 1966 (according to OPTA).
- Scotland have only won one of their 13 matches against African opponents in the World Cup.
Brazil vs Haiti
- Brazil claimed its first victory of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 3-0 comeback win over Haiti at Philadelphia Stadium. Brazil has won at least one of its first two World Cup matches in each of the last 13 editions of the tournament. The last time Brazil failed to win its first two World Cup games was in 1978, when it tied twice.
- Haiti is the first team eliminated from the World Cup.
- Brazil (241) has once again surpassed Germany (239) and is once again the country with the most goals scored in the history of the World Cup.
- This was Brazil’s first clean sheet in a World Cup and they scored at least three goals since 2010 (round of 16 against Chile).
- At an average of 30 years and 190 days, Brazil fielded its oldest team in a World Cup match since the 1962 final against Czechoslovakia (30 years and 216 days), according to OPTA.
Türkiye vs. Paraguay
- Matías Galarza, from Atlanta United, is the third MLS player to score in this World Cup, after Lionel Messi (Argentina) and Petar Musa (FC Dallas). His goal was also the fastest of the tournament; that’s tied for most with the 2002 tournament, when Brian McBride, Landon Donovan and Clint Mathis scored for the United States.
- Galarza became the first player since yellow cards were introduced in 1970 to score a goal and receive a yellow card before the 15th minute in a World Cup match.
- Gustavo Gómez made nine clearances in the first half against Turkey, the most for a South American player in the opening phase of a World Cup match since Walter Samuel’s nine against Nigeria in 2002.
- Türkiye failed to score despite attempting 62 shots in his first two games at this year’s World Cup, the most attempts without a goal in any two-game span in the competition since 1966 (according to OPTA).
- Türkiye has failed to score in his last three World Cup matches (2002 semi-final against Brazil and match against Australia).
THE BEST OF THE DAY
Goal of the day
After Lucas Paquetá struggled to win the ball back in midfield, he passed it to Vinícius Júnior, who ran towards goal before finding Matheus Cunha running at the top of the box. Once Cunha received the ball, he dribbled toward the goal before shooting with his left foot with such power that he fell to the ground in the process.
Assistance of the day
While Balogun did not officially receive credit for an assist on Australia’s own goal that provided the opening score for the United States, he should be credited for doing all the work leading up to the goal. Balogun charged down the left flank at full speed and cut into the box, and his subsequent cross through the middle forced an own goal when the ball bounced off Cameron Burgess and into the back of the net.
Salvation of the day
The United States got its first clean sheet in the World Cup and Alex Freeman showed great defense to probably prevent an Australian goal. The defender slid perfectly in at the near post to prevent Nishan Velupillay from connecting with Matthew Leckie’s low cross and keeping the Stars and Stripes ahead.
Time of day
Country roads, take me home
The United States secured their place in the round of 32 with a 2-0 victory over Australia on Friday, but the real magic happened after the final whistle. More than 65,000 fans in Seattle Stadium began to serenade the victorious Americans, en masse singing John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”
