The United States’ 2-0 World Cup win over Australia was a rare meeting between sides that could agree not just on terminology, but on the weighty significance of a good result. Both seemingly play every men’s World Cup with the weight of the future of the sport on their shoulders, both facing intense competition from other sports for the country’s hearts and minds. As John Denver’s Country Roads blared over the Seattle Stadium PA, they celebrated history: a spot in the knockout round secured with a game to spare, two wins to start a World Cup for the first time since 1930, a big moment for a breakout star in goalscorer Alex Freeman, and the continuation of a journey that US Soccer hope will be transformative for the sport in their country.
Board fixtures
Loading board
Sportra stores headline metadata and excerpt fields only. Read the complete article on the publisher's own website and do not reproduce full articles without permission from the rights holder.