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Nishan Velupillay was handed a start, but Australia crashed and burned against the United States as the hosts handed them a 2-0 defeat in Seattle.
The damage was done before half-time, with an unfortunate deflection off Cameron Burgess finding its own way past his goalkeeper. The second goal followed soon after Alex Freeman rose the highest to head home.
Both the goals came amid a spell where the Americans were clearly the more dominant side, leaving Australia chasing shadows for long periods of the opening 45 minutes.
MORE: World Cup Group D standings 2026: Updated results, table and fixtures
Velupillay showed early promise, driving down the left flank before curling an outside-foot effort just past the post. Beyond that flash, though, his influence faded fast.
He found himself dragged into defensive duties for most of the half and struggled to offer any outlet whenever Australia briefly got hold of possession. Coach Tony Popovic opted to withdraw him at the break, sending on Connor Metcalfe in his place.
MORE: Who is Nishan Velupillay? Indian-origin footballer in Australia's World Cup 2026 squad
Veupillay came through Melbourne Victory's youth ranks. He made his senior bow for the national team back in 2024 during a qualifying clash against China, scoring just seven minutes after stepping onto the pitch to help secure a 3-1 win. That moment proved to be the spark for a quick climb up the ranks and ultimately two successive World Cup appearances.
MORE: FIFA World Cup schedule 2026: Complete fixture list for tournament
Australia won't have long to dwell on the setback. The Socceroos are back in action on Thursday, June 25, when they take on Paraguay in their next Group D outing, looking to get their campaign back on track.
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The damage was done before half-time, with an unfortunate deflection off Cameron Burgess finding its own way past his goalkeeper. The second goal followed soon after Alex Freeman rose the highest to head home.
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Both the goals came amid a spell where the Americans were clearly the more dominant side, leaving Australia chasing shadows for long periods of the opening 45 minutes.
MORE: World Cup Group D standings 2026: Updated results, table and fixtures
How did Nishan Velupillay perform against USA in FIFA World Cup 2026?
Velupillay showed early promise, driving down the left flank before curling an outside-foot effort just past the post. Beyond that flash, though, his influence faded fast.
He found himself dragged into defensive duties for most of the half and struggled to offer any outlet whenever Australia briefly got hold of possession. Coach Tony Popovic opted to withdraw him at the break, sending on Connor Metcalfe in his place.
MORE: Who is Nishan Velupillay? Indian-origin footballer in Australia's World Cup 2026 squad
Veupillay came through Melbourne Victory's youth ranks. He made his senior bow for the national team back in 2024 during a qualifying clash against China, scoring just seven minutes after stepping onto the pitch to help secure a 3-1 win. That moment proved to be the spark for a quick climb up the ranks and ultimately two successive World Cup appearances.
MORE: FIFA World Cup schedule 2026: Complete fixture list for tournament
What comes next for Australia?
Australia won't have long to dwell on the setback. The Socceroos are back in action on Thursday, June 25, when they take on Paraguay in their next Group D outing, looking to get their campaign back on track.
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