Australian coach Tony Popovic is attacking the referee after losing to the USA in the World Cup
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Australia coach Tony Popovic shared his thoughts on refereeing after the 2-0 loss to the US in Seattle.
“I think today was it, I can’t say a better day than the referee,” Popovic told reporters after the game.
A controversial moment came when the Americans appeared to score their second goal. The play was initially called offside, but after a VAR review, the officials decided the goal was legal and disallowed it.
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Tony Popovic, head coach of Australia, reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between the US and Australia at Seattle Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on June 19, 2026. (Sarah Stier/FIFA/Getty Images)
The US got a goal at the end of the 43rd minute after a free kick was stopped, then Alex Freeman, the son of former NFL player, Antonio Freeman, put the ball in. The score was immediately contested by the Australians, who felt that their goalkeeper had blocked or was offside. After a VAR review, the call stood, and the goal was disallowed.
The tension escalated towards the end of the game when a brawl broke out. Australia’s Harry Souttar caught USA’s Folarin Balogun in what commentators described as a “naked rear gardener.” Zwayer regained control by issuing yellow cards to Balogun, Souttar and Australia’s Jacob Italiano.
Australia received four yellow cards, while the US received three.
Popovic was seen talking to German game official Felix Zwayer after the game, urgently.
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Alex Freeman of the United States heads the ball past Australia goalkeeper Patrick Beach during the World Cup soccer match in Seattle on June 19, 2026. (Photo by Maddy Grassy/AP)
Zwayer struggled again towards the end of the USA. The German, 45, needed help from USA’s Folarin Balogun and Australia’s Aiden O’Neill, who stretched his left leg after Zwayer fell to the ground.
However, the manager gave credit to the Americans and admitted his players looked “lazy” on Friday.
“I don’t know if it’s the event, but we looked lazy, we had heavy legs … They won every duel, they always won the second ball and when you do that, it makes it very difficult to get any momentum. Then we conceded two soft goals,” he said.
“When you think, you know, this noise here – the host country – I think the players show how good they are in the second half, but obviously at this level, you can’t give up that much in the first half.”
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FIFA lawyer Felix Zwayer suffering from cramps was a reminder of how difficult it is to be a football referee. (Photo by Sarah Stier – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
With a 2-0 record, the United States is in first place with six points, with Australia three behind and in second place. Both Paraguay and Turkey, who will meet on Friday to determine the fate of Team USA, are winless with zero points.
The United States will win Group D, and the best tie in the Round of 32, if Paraguay beats or ties Turkey – that game starts at 11pm ET.
