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Is the US going all the way? It took a big step forward on Friday by winning Group D.
The Americans became the second team to win their group at the 2026 World Cup. Mexico won Group A on Thursday night and the United States sealed Group D with victory over Australia and Turkey’s surprise loss to Paraguay.
Elsewhere, two potential contenders got 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:
USA vs. Australia
- The USA won two men’s World Cup matches in a row for the second time and the first since their first two all-time matches in the tournament in 1930, which was the first ever World Cup. It is also only the second time the USA has won two group games in a single World Cup.
- The USA became the first team in World Cup history to benefit from an own goal in two consecutive games. It was the first time in the modern era (since 1990) that the USA has benefited from an own goal in consecutive matches (all tournaments).
- The United States is the second World Cup host nation 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-16D-15L when he hasn’t played since his US debut in 2016, and it’s 45W-16D-26L when he does.
- Chris Richards has completed 97.8% of his passes at the FIFA World Cup (175 out of 179). That’s the second-best accuracy by a player in their first two appearances in the record since 1966 (min. 100 passes), behind Romania’s Gheorghe Popescu in 1994, when he was 122-of-124 (98.4%), per RECORD.
Scotland v Morocco
- Morocco are unbeaten in their last six World Cup group stage matches (3W-3D-0L) and have not lost one since June 20, 2018, a 1-0 loss to Portugal.
- Ismael Saibari scored in his second World Cup game in a row. He is just the second African player to score in his first two appearances at the World Cup, joining Egypt’s Mohamed Salah. He also became the first ever Moroccan player to score in consecutive World Cup matches.
- Saibari scored within the first two minutes of the match. It is the fastest that Morocco has scored a goal in its World Cup history.
- Morocco completed 601 passes against Scotland, the most by an African team in a World Cup match since 1966 (per OPTA).
- Scotland have won just one of their 13 matches against African opposition ever at the World Cup.
Brazil vs. Haiti
- Brazil picked up their first win of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 3-0 victory over Haiti at the Philadelphia Stadium. Brazil have won at least one of their first two World Cup matches in each of the last 13 editions of the tournament. The last time Brazil did not win their first two games in a World Cup was in 1978, when they had two draws.
- Haiti is the first team to be eliminated from the World Cup.
- Brazil (241) have overtaken Germany (239) again and return to being the country with the most goals scored in World Cup history.
- This was Brazil’s first clean sheet at the World Cup while scoring 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.
Turkey against Paraguay
- Atlanta United’s Matias Galarza is the third MLS player to score at this World Cup, following Lionel Messi (Argentina) and Petar Musa (FC Dallas). His goal was also the fastest of the tournament; it is tied for most with the 2002 tournament, when Brian McBride, Landon Donovan and Clint Mathis all 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 of a World Cup match.
- Gustavo Gómez made nine first-half clearances against Turkey, the most by a South American player in the opening stages of a World Cup match since Walter Samuel’s nine against Nigeria in 2002.
- Türkiye failed to score despite attempting 62 shots in its first two matches at this year’s World Cup, the most attempts without a goal in any two-legged tie in the competition since 1966 (per OPTA).
- Türkiye have failed to score in their last three World Cup matches (2002 semi-final against Brazil and match against Australia).
THE BEST OF THE DAY
Today’s goal
After Lucas Paquetá struggled to get the ball back in midfield, he dished it to Vinícius Júnior, who raced towards goal before finding a sprinting Matheus Cunha at the top of the box. When Cunha received the ball, he dribbled towards goal before unleashing a left-footed shot with so much power that he knocked himself to the ground in the process.
Today’s Assist
While Balogun was not officially credited for an assist on Australia’s own goal that provided the USA’s opening score, he should be given credit for doing all the work leading up to the goal. Balogun stormed down the left flank at full speed and cut inside the box and his subsequent cross across the middle forced an own goal as the ball bounced off Cameron Burgess and into the net.
Today’s Rescue
The USA got their first clean sheet of the World Cup and Alex Freeman showed good defending to likely prevent an Australian goal. The full-back slid in perfectly at the near post to prevent Nishan Velupillay connecting with Matthew Leckie’s low cross to keep the Stars and Stripes in the lead.
Today’s Moment
Country roads, take me home
The USA secured their place in the round of 16 with a 2-0 World Cup win over Australia on Friday, but the real magic happened after the final whistle. Over 65,000 fans in Seattle Stadium began to serenade the victorious Americans and broke into a massive sing-along of “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver.
