Team USA is coming to the Bay Area for the World Cup knockout rounds after the United States beat Australia 2-0 on Friday, and Paraguay beat Turkiye 1-0 later in the day, making the U.S. the winner of Group D.
The knockout rounds begin at Levi’s Stadium on July 1.
At this year’s 48-team tournament, the U.S. has won consecutive games for the first time at a World Cup since 1930. The Americans have scored six goals, one off their record for most in a single World Cup, and received contributions throughout their roster.
Alex Freeman, the youngest player on the team at 21 and son of Super Bowl champion Antonio Freeman, gave the Americans a 2-0 lead in the 43rd minute off a set piece. Freeman headed in a deflected shot by Sergiño Dest for his first career World Cup goal. The goal was confirmed after a video review.
“(He) is doing a fantastic job,” coach Mauricio Pochettino said of Freeman. “The evolution is massive. He’s so humble. He wants to learn. He always listens. He’s a player that you really enjoy being with him. Not only coaching, but being with him.”
The U.S. already knows it won the group because it has beaten both of the Group D teams, Paraguay and Australia, who could match the Americans’ six points in the final matchday next Thursday.
World Cup ticket prices for matches at Levi’s Stadium have been spiking all week, particularly after the United States beat Australia.
The cheapest seats at Levi’s Stadium listed on secondary ticket market site TickPick were slightly less than $3,000 and got all the way up to $6,626, as of Friday evening.
On StubHub, tickets ranged from $3,258 to $15,501, as of Friday evening.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
