Zlatan Said WHAT About USMNT's World Cup Chances After That 2-0 Win?
BOOM! The Emerald City is absolutely buzzing right now, fam! Our USMNT stormed Group D, securing a massive 2-0 win over Australia, and that means we are officially headed to the Round of 32! This isn't a win, this is a full-blown statement from our squad. And when a legendary figure like Zlatan jumps in to say the United States CAN WIN the entire 2026 FIFA World Cup, you know this team is cooking. Get hyped, Seattle, because this World Cup ride is getting started!
USMNT Is For Real, Australia Couldn't Handle It
Let's talk about that Australia game, because it was magic. Our boys notched two goals in the first half, setting the tone early. We saw Alex Freeman bag a goal that VAR overturned after an initial offside call. Plus, we took an early lead thanks to an own goal, which hey, we'll take 'em any way we can get 'em! Weston McKennie and Alex Freeman were starring in that win. They were everywhere, a truly awesome performance, especially with Christian Pulisic out for the game against Australia, as reported by FOX Sports' Jenny Taft. We missed Puli, for sure, but the squad stepped up!
Trade on Every Game with Kalshi
Click Here to sign up to Kalshi — Free $10 when you sign up using our link or use code: ONTAPSEA. The only federally regulated prediction market in the US. Trade on real sports outcomes. Available in all 50 states.
After the final whistle, the breakdowns were flowing. Clint Dempsey and Javier Hernández were breaking down the 2-0 win. Bob Bradley even broke down our dangerous offense. Juan Pablo Ángel and Thiago Alcântara were already discussing how USMNT should approach Türkiye, our next opponent in the Round of 32. Mauricio Pochettino was talking up the win too, and then Zlatan Ibrahimović himself dropped the bomb: United States CAN win the 2026 FIFA World Cup! The confidence in this team is sky-high. Plus, let's give a shoutout to our own Sounders hero, Cristian Roldan, who's on the USMNT squad.
Japan Dropped A Four-Spot and The World Noticed
While we were celebrating the USMNT, there was plenty of other World Cup action around the globe. Japan absolutely DOMINATED Tunisia, with a crushing 4-0 victory. Ayase Ueda was showing off, with one perfectly placed goal and another with serious power. Junya Ito slotted one home to make it 3-0 for Japan, and their manager Hajime Moriyasu, cool, calm, and collected, approved. Meanwhile, Tunisia manager Hervé Renard was reacting on the sideline. That's a huge statement from Japan!
Other World Cup games also delivered. Netherlands secured a dominant 5-1 win against Sweden, and Germany edged out Ivory Coast 2-1. Over in another Group E matchup, Ecuador and Curaçao played to a 0-0 draw. Meanwhile, in MLB, the Phillies delivered a brutal 15-3 blow to the Mets. Yikes. Back to the pitch!
So, what's next? The USMNT is set to face Türkiye in the Round of 32. This is it, folks, winner moves on, loser goes home. The stakes couldn't be higher. Can our boys keep that momentum rolling? We'll be watching every single kick, tackle, and goal. The road to the World Cup trophy got real, and we're ready for the ride!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.