Australia World Cup star speaks out against referee after big loss to US as coaches complain

A prima subordinate connected Australia's World Cup squad spoke retired against referee Felix Zwayer aft a 2-0 nonaccomplishment to the U.S. connected Friday, arsenic the caput manager and an adjunct manager person present complained astir the referee arsenic well.

Forward Nestory Irankunda said the referee had a "stinker."

"If you look astatine however the referee was today, [there’s] not overmuch I tin accidental astir that," Irankunda told reporters aft the game.

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"The ref was having a stinker today, but I mean it is what it is," helium said. "He was giving each telephone to the USA. I get it, but astatine the aforesaid time, we cognize there’s 2 teams connected the field, truthful you person to springiness the calls some ways and helium didn’t bash that today."

Nestory Irankunda of Australia reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D lucifer betwixt the U.S. and Australia astatine Seattle Stadium successful Seattle, Wash., connected June 19, 2026. (Jared C. Tilton/FIFA via Getty Images)

Irankunda's ailment came soon aft Australia manager Tony Popovic criticized Zwayer arsenic well.

"I thought the referee gave excessively galore fouls away, successful each honesty," Popovic told reporters aft the match. "Sometimes you didn’t person to bash overmuch to triumph a foul, and connected the different occasions you you had to bash a just spot to get one.

"Today was I wouldn’t accidental the champion time for the referee. Certainly we felt we were Australia contiguous with the referees."

One of the much arguable moments successful the lucifer came erstwhile the Americans appeared to people their 2nd goal. The play was initially called backmost for offside, but aft a VAR review, officials determined the extremity was valid and fto it stand.

The U.S. recovered the backmost of the nett astatine the extremity of the 43rd infinitesimal aft a escaped footwear was stopped, and past Alex Freeman, the lad of erstwhile NFL subordinate Antonio Freeman, headed a shot in. The people was instantly protested by the Australians, who felt their goalkeeper had been impeded oregon determination was an offside. After a VAR review, the telephone stood, and the extremity was awarded.

Popovic questioned the determination to fto the people count, aft the game.

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Tony Popovic, caput manager of Australia, reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D lucifer betwixt the U.S. and Australia astatine Seattle Stadium successful Seattle, Wash., connected June 19, 2026. (Sarah Stier/FIFA/Getty Images)

"I’m not definite connected that one. We felt that, but unluckily that didn’t spell our way," Popovic said.

Meanwhile, Australia adjunct manager Paul Okon argued that their goalkeeper Patrick Beach was impeded during the play.

"From what we understood, helium astir apt impeded Beachy," Okon said astatine halftime, per FOX Sports. "But, of course, the VAR decided differently."

Popovic was seen getting into a heated speech with the lucifer officials aft the crippled ended.

The U.S. scored its archetypal extremity connected an ain extremity by Australia's Cameron Burgess successful the 11th minute. It marked the 2nd crippled successful a enactment wherever the U.S. scored archetypal connected an aboriginal ain goal.

But contempt the complaints astir the referee, Popovic did springiness recognition to the Americans and admitted his players looked "sluggish" connected Friday.

United States' Alex Freeman heads the shot for a extremity past Australia goalkeeper Patrick Beach during the World Cup Group D shot lucifer successful Seattle connected June 19, 2026. (Maddy Grassy/AP Photo)

"I don't cognize if it's the occasion, but we looked sluggish, heavy-legged ... They won each duel, they won each 2nd shot and erstwhile you bash that, it makes it precise hard to summation immoderate momentum. And past we conceded 2 brushed goals," helium said.

"When you think, you know, this sound present — big federation — I deliberation the players amusement however bully they are successful the 2nd half, but evidently astatine this level, you can't springiness distant that overmuch successful the first."

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Zwayer besides pulled up with a cramp towards the extremity of the USA’s win. The German official, 45, required assistance from some the USA’s Folarin Balogun and Australia's Aiden O'Neill, who stretched retired his near limb aft Zwayer fell to the turf.

With its 2-0 record, the United States is successful archetypal spot with six points, portion Australia remains with 3 and successful 2nd place.