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Despite Christian Pulisic’s absence, US beats Australia 2-0 to advance to World Cup knockout round
By Associated Press at Odessa American (oaoa.com)
· June 19, 2026
· 2 min read
By ANDREW DESTIN
AP Sports Writer
SEATTLE The U.S. national soccer team advanced to the knockout round at the World Cup despite the absence of injured forward Christian Pulisic, beating Australia 2-0 on Friday.
A deep U.S. roster overcame Pulisic’s absence to clinch a knockout berth after only t...
Key takeaway national soccer team advanced to the knockout round at the World Cup despite the absence of injured forward Christian Pulisic, beating Australia 2-0 on Friday.
Why this matters in The Odessa
For Odessa residents, the US national soccer team's advancement to the World Cup knockout round is a welcome distraction from the region's own concerns, such as hurricane risks and flooding. As part of the larger Midland-Odessa metro area, Odessa's community may be following the World Cup with interest, particularly given the team's strong performance despite the absence of key player Christian Pulisic. The city's own school district, ECISD, may also be taking note of the team's success, potentially inspiring local youth soccer players. With the US team's next match on the horizon, Odessa's residents can look forward to continued excitement and a sense of national pride, even as they stay vigilant about local issues. The team's ability to overcome adversity, such as Pulisic's injury, may also serve as a model for resilience in the face of challenges like those faced by the Odessa community.
About this story
Original reporting by Odessa American (oaoa.com) . The Odessa surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit Odessa American (oaoa.com) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 19, 2026 ·
Source: Odessa American (oaoa.com) ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? By ANDREW DESTIN
AP Sports Writer
SEATTLE The U.S. national soccer team advanced to the knockout round at the World Cup despite the absence of injured forward Christian Pulisic, beating Australia 2-0 on Friday.
A deep U.S. roster overcame Pulisic’s absence to clinch a knockout berth after only t...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 19, 2026 by Odessa American (oaoa.com) and curated for The Odessa readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Associated Press at Odessa American (oaoa.com). To learn more about how The Odessa selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Odessa, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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