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A star player on Australia’s World Cup team spoke out against referee Felix Zwayer after a 2-0 loss to the U.S. on Friday, as the head coach and an assistant coach have now complained about the referee as well.
Forward Nestory Irankunda said the referee had a “stinker.”
“If you look at how the referee was today, [there’s] not much I can say about that,” Irankunda told reporters after the game.
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“The ref was having a stinker today, but I mean it is what it is,” he said. “He was giving every call to the USA. I get it, but at the same time, we know there’s two teams on the field, so you have to give the calls both ways and he didn’t do that today.”
Nestory Irankunda of Australia reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between the U.S. and Australia at Seattle Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on June 19, 2026. (Jared C. Tilton/FIFA via Getty Images)
Irankunda’s complaint came shortly after Australia manager Tony Popovic criticized Zwayer as well.
“I thought the referee gave too many fouls away, in all honesty,” Popovic told reporters after the match. “Sometimes you didn’t have to do much to win a foul, and on the other occasions you you had to do a fair bit to get one.
“Today was I wouldn’t say the best day for the referee. Certainly we felt we were Australia today with the referees.”
One of the more controversial moments in the match came when the Americans appeared to score their second goal. The play was initially called back for offside, but after a VAR review, officials determined the goal was valid and let it stand.
The U.S. found the back of the net at the end of the 43rd minute after a free kick was stopped, and then Alex Freeman, the son of former NFL player Antonio Freeman, headed a ball in. The score was immediately protested by the Australians, who felt their goalkeeper had been impeded or there was an offside. After a VAR review, the call stood, and the goal was awarded.
Popovic questioned the decision to let the score count, after the game.
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Tony Popovic, head coach of Australia, reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between the U.S. and Australia at Seattle Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on June 19, 2026. (Sarah Stier/FIFA/Getty Images)
“I’m not sure on that one. We felt that, but unfortunately that didn’t go our way,” Popovic said.
Meanwhile, Australia assistant coach Paul Okon argued that their goalkeeper Patrick Beach was impeded during the play.
“From what we understood, he probably impeded Beachy,” Okon said at halftime, per FOX Sports. “But, of course, the VAR decided differently.”
Popovic was seen getting into a heated exchange with the match officials after the game ended.
The U.S. scored its first goal on an own goal by Australia’s Cameron Burgess in the 11th minute. It marked the second game in a row where the U.S. scored first on an early own goal.
But despite the complaints about the referee, Popovic did give credit to the Americans and admitted his players looked “sluggish” on Friday.
United States’ Alex Freeman heads the ball for a goal past Australia goalkeeper Patrick Beach during the World Cup Group D soccer match in Seattle on June 19, 2026. (Maddy Grassy/AP Photo)
“I don’t know if it’s the occasion, but we looked sluggish, heavy-legged … They won every duel, they won every second ball and when you do that, it makes it very difficult to gain any momentum. And then we conceded two soft goals,” he said.
“When you think, you know, this noise here — host nation — I think the players show how good they are in the second half, but obviously at this level, you can’t give away that much in the first.”
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Zwayer also pulled up with a cramp towards the end of the USA’s win. The German official, 45, required help from both the USA’s Folarin Balogun and Australia’s Aiden O’Neill, who stretched out his left leg after Zwayer fell to the turf.
With its 2-0 record, the United States is in first place with six points, while Australia remains with three and in second place.