Victory Without Pulisic
The U.S. national soccer team advanced to the World Cup knockout round on Friday with a 2-0 victory over Australia, securing its spot despite the absence of injured forward Christian Pulisic. An own goal from Australia just 11 minutes into the game helped propel the Americans forward. This marks the first time since 1930 that the American men have won consecutive World Cup matches.
Clinching First Place
Paraguay's 1-0 win over Turkey sealed the favorable bracket path for the United States. The U.S. clinched first place in Group D after that result, setting up a Round of 32 knockout matchup on July 1 in San Francisco. The victory means the Americans will face a lower-seeded opponent in the next stage.
Weather Threatens Tournament Flow
Severe storms, flash flooding, and extreme heat are battering parts of the Plains, Midwest, and South this weekend, threatening to disrupt World Cup fans and athletes. Preliminary rainfall totals in Louisiana on Friday set a new state record. An estimated 29 inches fell in Cottonport during a 24-hour window on Friday, exceeding the previous record of 22 inches. Flood watches remain in effect across the South, including eastern Texas, Louisiana, southern Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, as remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur sweep through the region.
The Plains and parts of the Midwest face additional storm threats, with potentially dire consequences for Saturday evening's World Cup match between Ecuador and Curaçao in Kansas City. Much of Nebraska, Kansas, and easternmost Colorado may see thunderstorms with the potential for tornadoes, large hail, and wind gusts up to 75 mph. Heat advisories cover southeastern Texas, where heat index values could reach as high as 108 degrees Fahrenheit during Saturday evening's match between the Netherlands and Sweden.
Viral Fan Freddy Gets Stranded, Then Rescued
German soccer fan Freddy, whose enthusiastic reviews of American food and attractions have gone viral, got stranded in Dallas after his connecting flight to Canada was canceled due to weather. The situation sparked a bidding war among airlines, private jet owners, and even Utah Governor Spencer Cox, who offered assistance via social media. American Airlines eventually flew Freddy and his friends to Buffalo, with former Houston Texans player J.J. Watt organizing the effort and providing a hotel suite and signed jersey.
FIFA's New Mouth-Covering Rule Makes Its Mark
Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron became the first player ejected under FIFA's new mouth-covering rule when he received a red card during a Group D match against Turkey on Friday night. The infraction occurred during first-half stoppage time when Almiron covered his mouth while speaking to Turkey's Mert Mulder following a foul near midfield. Referee Ivan Barton went to video review and quickly ruled that Almiron would be ejected under the rule put in place for this year's World Cup.
Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro said, "According to the law, if you cover your mouth you're sent off. Red card. There's nothing I can do about that. Unfortunately, we can't issue a new opinion on this." Despite playing with just 10 players for the remainder of the match, Paraguay still secured a 1-0 win. This was the second time in two games that Almiron was carded under a new rule. In the opening match against the United States, a yellow card was issued to Almiron for diving after video review overturned a yellow card issued to Tim Ream.
International Visitors Reshape American Image
World Cup tourists are discovering America and reshaping global perceptions of the country. Boston welcomed Scottish fans who drank the Sam Adams brewery dry and brought soccer superfan energy to Fenway Park. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced a formal partnership with Glasgow following the Scottish fans' visit. A Japan supporter's post about free chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant racked up over 16 million views, with the fan writing, "In my land, hospitality is a debt. Obligation, weighed carefully, returned in the proper season with interest of feeling. Here, the gift arrives before you have even proven you can pay for dinner. This is not an appetizer. This is a declaration: we trust you. Eat."
Japanese fans cleaned up arenas after games, as did Scottish fans. Yves Dominique, a first-generation Haitian living in Atlanta who flew to Boston for the Haiti-Scotland match, told reporters, "This is like no other World Cups. People come in from all places, and they're just here to have fun. That's what soccer does. That's what fútbol does." The Algerian national soccer team was assigned to Lawrence, Kansas for training and practice during the World Cup and has been met with an enthusiastic reception from local residents, including Mayor Brad Finkeldei.
