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A star player on Australia’s World Cup team spoke out against referee Felix Zwayer after a 2-0 loss to the USA on Friday, as the head coach and an assistant coach have now also complained about the referee.
Striker Nestory Irankunda said the referee had a “stinker”.
“If you look at how the referee was today, [there’s] not much I can say about it, Irankunda told reporters after the match.
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“The referee had a stinker today but I mean it is what it is,” he said. “He gave every single call to the USA. I understand that, but at the same time we know there are two teams on the field so you have to call both ways and he didn’t do that today.”
Nestory Irankunda of Australia reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between the United States and Australia at Seattle Stadium in Seattle, Washington on June 19, 2026. (Jared C. Tilton/FIFA via Getty Images)
Irankunda’s complaint came shortly after Australia manager Tony Popovic also criticized Zwayer.
“I thought the referee gave away too many fouls, to be honest,” Popovic told reporters after the game. “Sometimes you didn’t have to do much to win a foul and on the other occasions you had to do quite a bit to get one.
“Today was, I wouldn’t say the best day for the umpire. We definitely felt like we were Australia today with the umpires.”
One of the more controversial moments of the match came then The Americans looked set to score their second goal. The play was initially called back for offside, but after a VAR review the officials ruled the goal was valid and let it stand.
The USA found the back of the net at the end of the 43rd minute after a free kick was stopped and then Alex Freeman, son of former NFL player Antonio Freeman, headed in a ball. The score was immediately protested by the Australians, who felt their goalkeeper had been obstructed or was offside. After a VAR review, the call stood and the goal was awarded.
Popovic questioned the decision to let the score count after the game.
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Australia head coach Tony Popovic reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between the United States and Australia at Seattle Stadium in Seattle, Washington on June 19, 2026. (Sarah Stier/FIFA/Getty Images)
“I’m not sure about it. We felt it, but unfortunately it didn’t go our way,” Popovic said.
Meanwhile, Australia assistant coach Paul Okon argued that their goalkeeper Patrick Beach was obstructed during the play.
“From what we understood, he probably obstructed Beachy,” Okon told FOX Sports at halftime. “But of course VAR decided otherwise.”
Popovic was seen getting into a heated exchange with the match officials after the match ended.
The USA scored its first goal on an own goal by Australia’s Cameron Burgess in the 11th minute. It marked the second game in a row in which the USA scored first on an early own goal.
But despite the complaints about the referee, Popovic gave credit to the Americans and admitted his players looked “sluggish” on Friday.
USA’s Alex Freeman heads the ball past Australia goalkeeper Patrick Beach after a goal during the World Cup Group D match in Seattle on June 19, 2026. (Maddy Grassy/AP Photo)
“I don’t know if it’s the reason, but we looked sluggish, heavy-footed… They won every duel, they won every other ball and when you do that it makes it very difficult to get any momentum. And then we conceded two soft goals,” he said.
“When you think, you know, this noise here — host nation – I think the players show how good they are in the second half, but at this level, of course, you can’t give so much away in the first.”
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Zwayer also pulled up with a cramp toward the end of the USA’s win. The German official, 45, required help from both USA’s Folarin Balogun and Australia’s Aiden O’Neill, who stretched his left leg after Zwayer fell to the turf.
With his 2-0 recordthe United States is in first place with six points, while Australia remains with three and in second place.
