arts
Despite Christian Pulisic’s absence, US beats Australia 2-0 to advance to World Cup knockout round
By Andrew Destin | Associated Press at Fort Worth Report
· June 19, 2026
· 2 min read
SEATTLE (AP) — The U.S. national soccer team advanced to the knockout round at the World Cup despite the absence of injured forward Christian Pulisic, beating Australia 2-0 on Friday. A deep U.S. roster overcame Pulisic’s absence to clinch a knockout berth after only two matches for the first time.
Key takeaway national soccer team advanced to the knockout round at the World Cup despite the absence of injured forward Christian Pulisic, beating Australia 2-0 on Friday.
Why this matters in The Fort Worth
The US national soccer team's advancement to the World Cup knockout round is a notable achievement, and Fort Worth residents can take pride in the fact that one of their own, Ricardo Pepi, played a key role in the team's success. As a striker who started in place of the injured Christian Pulisic, Pepi's presence on the field helped the US secure a 2-0 lead against Australia. While Pepi is a product of the FC Dallas academy, his connection to the North Texas area is a point of interest for local soccer fans. The success of the US team may also draw attention to the growing soccer scene in Fort Worth, with Texas Christian University's soccer program and the Fort Worth Vaqueros, a semi-professional soccer team, contributing to the city's rich sports landscape. The city's residents will likely be watching closely as the US team progresses in the World Cup.
About this story
Original reporting by Fort Worth Report . The Fort Worth surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: arts ·
Published: June 19, 2026 ·
Source: Fort Worth Report ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? SEATTLE (AP) — The U.S. national soccer team advanced to the knockout round at the World Cup despite the absence of injured forward Christian Pulisic, beating Australia 2-0 on Friday. A deep U.S. roster overcame Pulisic’s absence to clinch a knockout berth after only two matches for the first time.
When was this published? This article was first published on June 19, 2026 by Fort Worth Report and curated for The Fort Worth readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Andrew Destin | Associated Press at Fort Worth Report. To learn more about how The Fort Worth selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more arts coverage from The Fort Worth, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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