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The United States advanced to the World Cup knockout rounds with a game to spare following an impressive 2-0 win over Australia Friday, stoking the hopes of an already hyped host nation.

The US join fellow tournament co-hosts Mexico as the first teams to progress and could be assured top spot in Group D if Turkey fail to beat Paraguay later Friday.

Excitement had been running high from last week’s US thrashing of Paraguay.

And a glorious day in the Pacific Northwest did not disappoint the red-and-white-clad fans who packed Seattle’s Lumen Field and its surrounding streets and bars.

Even before kickoff, chants of “USA” rocked a stadium best known as the raucous home of the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, but also a US soccer hotbed that hosts the local Sounders.

Without injured talisman attacker Christian Pulisic, who failed to recover from a calf issue in time, coach Mauricio Pochettino switched to a 4-4-2 formation, bringing in second striker Ricardo Pepi.

For the second game running, the US were gifted an early lead, thanks to an own goal in the 11th minute.

Playing slightly wider than usual, star striker Folarin Balogun raced down the left and cut the ball back from the byline.

Under pressure from a lurking Pepi, Aussie defender Cameron Burgess steered the ball into his own net.

Toothless Australia

Having surprisingly dropped both goalscorers from their impressive opening win over Turkey, Australia looked toothless.

The US controlled possession and were lively and dynamic on the attack, Weston McKennie and Sergino Dest combining well down the right flank.

Alex Freeman doubled the US lead in the 44th minute from what was surprisingly his team’s first shot on target.

Taking a free kick from the right byline, Antonee Robinson ignored the scrum in the box and played the ball to Sergino Dest, wide open in the D, whose blocked shot looped up into the air.

Freeman — son of Super Bowl-winning NFL wide receiver Antonio Freeman — was first to the ball, heading it past Patrick Beach. The offside flag went up. But it was overturned by VAR, and the stadium rocked for a second a time.

Australia made three changes at the break — sending on Connor Metcalfe and Nestory Irankunda, the goalscorers against Turkey — and pushed higher up the field.

They were nearly caught out immediately. Balogun raced onto a through ball for a one-on-one chance, but his shot was blocked after a heavy touch.

Australia’s best chance so far came in the 62nd minute. The dangerous Cristian Volpato — who switched allegiance from Italy to Australia on the eve of the tournament — skied his shot from Irankunda’s cut-back pass.

With the US sitting back, Metcalfe had a shot saved, a rampaging Irankunda was brought down by Richards, and Jason Geria’s close-range effort was blocked in a nervy final phase for the hosts.

But despite late-flaring tensions between the teams, the Americans held on for the clean sheet and will have the luxury of playing Turkey next Thursday, knowing their spot in the round of 32 is secured.

With home advantage and sparkling form so far, US fans will be dreaming of a run to the quarter-finals, which they last reached in 2002, and even beyond.

AFP

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A French appeals court on Friday has confirmed that Moroccan football icon Achraf Hakimi will face trial for the alleged rape of a woman in 2023, which the Paris Saint-Germain defender denies.

In February 2023, a woman then aged 24 told police in the Val-de-Marne region southeast of Paris that Hakimi had raped her.

The PSG right-back and captain of the Moroccan national team, whose second match of the 2026 World Cup kicks off on Friday against Scotland, has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Shortly after the Versailles Court of Appeal delivered its ruling, Hakimi wrote on X that he had been “waiting for this trial since day one.”

“At last, I’ll be able to speak,” he said.

A date has not been announced for the start of the trial at the criminal court in the Hauts-de-Seine department.

“This confirmation was expected. Nothing here says that he is guilty of anything; he remains steadfast in his defense,” Hakimi’s lawyer Fanny Colin said.

The plaintiff’s lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, said the decision brought her client “relief and hope.”

The plaintiff said she met Hakimi in January 2023 on Instagram and went to his home in a taxi ordered by the player, a police source said at the time.

She claimed that the player kissed her, touched her without her consent and then raped her.

She said she managed to push him away and text a friend, who came to pick her up.

Speaking to the press for the first time in a Mediapart article published Thursday, the woman, using the pseudonym Jeanne, said she wanted a trial “to defend myself, to be heard”.

“I want to explain myself. I want people to believe me,” she added.

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Arsenal will begin their Premier League title defence against promoted side, Coventry, on August 21.

The Premier League fixtures for the 2026-27 campaign were released on Friday, with the Gunners’ home game against Frank Lampard’s Coventry among the highlights in the opening round of matches.Coventry are back in the top-flight for the first time in 25 years after winning the Championship last season.

Andoni Iraola’s first Premier League game as Liverpool manager will be at Newcastle on August 23.

Manchester City start life after Pep Guardiola at home to Bournemouth on August 23.

City are expected to appoint former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca to replace Guardiola, who stepped down at the end of the season after a decade in charge.

New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso begins his reign with a west London derby at Fulham on August 24.

Hull City, who won promotion via the Championship play-offs, begin their first Premier League season since 2017 with a home fixture against Manchester United on August 22.

Ipswich, promoted in second place in the Championship, host Sunderland on August 22.

Elsewhere on the first weekend, Europa League winners Aston Villa travel to Brighton.

Brentford host Tottenham, Everton welcome Crystal Palace and Leeds visit Nottingham Forest.

Arsenal, champions for the first time since 2004, face a testing period after they host Coventry.

Mikel Arteta’s side head to Villa for their first away league game of the season, then meet Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on September 5.

Trips to Sunderland and Brighton follow for the north Londoners.

The weekend of September 12 brings the first Manchester derby of the post-Guardiola era, while Liverpool host Manchester United on November 21.

City and Arsenal do not face each other until November 28 at the Emirates Stadium.

The first Merseyside derby of the season between Everton and Liverpool is scheduled for November 28 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Roberto De Zerbi will get his first taste of the north London derby on December 5 when Tottenham host Arsenal.

The pick of the Boxing Day schedule sees Coventry boss Lampard facing his old club Chelsea on December 26.

Liverpool travel to arch rivals Manchester United on January 23 and a week later City host Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.

The final day of the Premier League will take place on May 30, with Arsenal at home to Brighton while City travel to Sunderland and Liverpool host Bournemouth.

Chelsea and United finish at home to Brentford and Fulham respectively.

The start and the end of the coming season are later than usual as a result of the World Cup, which finishes just 34 days before the Premier League begins.

Arsenal will face FA Cup winners City in the Community Shield, which serves as the curtain raiser to the top-flight season, on August 16.