Australia coach Tony Popovic rips referee after World Cup loss to USA
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Australia coach Tony Popovic shared his thoughts on the referee following their 2-0 defeat to the USA in Seattle on Friday.
“I guess I can’t say that today was the best day for the referee,” Popovic told reporters after the match. he said.
There was a controversial moment as the Americans scored their second goal. The match was initially canceled due to offside, but after the VAR review, the officials decided that the goal was valid and it was considered valid.
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Australia head coach Tony Popovic reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between the USA and Australia at Seattle Stadium on June 19, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Sarah Stier/FIFA/Getty Images)
The USA found the goal at the end of the 43rd minute after the free kick was stopped, and then Alex Freeman, son of former NFL player Antonio Freeman, sent the ball into the goal. The score was immediately protested by the Australians, who felt their goalkeeper was obstructed or offside. After VAR review, the decision was valid and the goal was awarded.
Tension escalated later in the match when a physical fight broke out. Australia’s Harry Souttar caught USA’s Folarin Balogun in what commentators described as a “rear-naked choke”. Zwayer regained control by showing yellow cards to Balogun, Souttar and Australian Jacob Italiano.
Australia received four yellow cards, while the USA received three.
Popovic was seen urgently approaching German match official Felix Zwayer after the match.
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Alex Freeman of the United States heads the ball past Australian goalkeeper Patrick Beach during a World Cup Group D soccer match in Seattle on June 19, 2026. (Maddy Grassy/AP Photo)
Zwayer stood up with a cramp near the end of the USA’s win. The 45-year-old German official sought help from American Folarin Balogun and Australian Aiden O’Neill, who stretched out Zwayer’s left leg after he fell on the field.
Still, the coach gave credit to the Americans and admitted his players looked “sluggish” on Friday.
“I don’t know if it was an opportunity but we looked sluggish, heavy-legged… They won every duel, won every second ball and when you do that it makes it very difficult to build momentum. Then we conceded two soft goals,” he said.
“When you think about the noise here (the home nation), I think it shows how good the players are in the second half, but obviously at this level, you can’t give that much away in the first half.”
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FIFA referee Felix Zwayer’s collapse with cramps was a reminder of how physically demanding it is to be a football referee. (Photo: Sarah Stier – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
With its 2-0 performance, the USA ranks first with 6 points, while Australia ranks second with 3 points. Paraguay and Türkiye, who face each other on Friday to determine the fate of the USA in the group, cannot win with zero points.
If Paraguay beats or draws Türkiye, the USA will triumph in Group D and secure a favorable draw in the Round of 32; The match will start at 23:00 ET.
