USMNT rides Balogun-Pepi duo to knockout stage without Pulisic

USMNT beat Australia 2-0 in Seattle to clinch a World Cup knockout berth despite Christian Pulisic’s calf injury, as Balogun’s pace helped set up an own-goal opener and Alex Freeman headed home the second in a two-striker setup with Pepi. The defense earned its first clean sheet in 10 matches, Freeman scored his first World Cup goal, and the win marks back-to-back group victories for the U.S. for the first time since 1930, leaving them atop Group D with a final group game against Turkey and a potential knockout opponent that will be a third‑place team from another group.