Cristian Roldan told ‘em what they were in for.

The Sounders and former University of Washington Huskies soccer star, in his second World Cup playing for the United States, told his U.S. teammates how raucous Friday was going to be. Roldan tried to explain to them how packed Lumen Field — FIFA calling it “Seattle Stadium” — was going to be for the first U.S. World Cup match ever in the Pacific Northwest.

He tried to tell them about the noise, how it was going to shake the building, the bench and them.

Then just before noon Friday, Roldan and his U.S. teammates lined up shoulder to shoulder across the sideline plus the width field on its north, downtown half. The sold-out crowd of 66,925 stood. And all but the few thousand Australian “Socceroos” fans in gold behind the opposite goal — heck, maybe some of them, too — roared the words to The Star-Spangled Banner. Over the music. Without an on-field performer signing.

“It was amazing,” 27-year-old American center back Auston Trusty said, after he made his World Cup debut as a substitute late in Friday’s match. “Obviously, to not have a singer and have the whole, entire crowd singing, that just gives you chills.”

Then, just as the anthem ended, the Black Hawks arrived.

U.S. Army pilots for four attack helicopters from Joint Base Lewis-McChord made the short flight up from Pierce County. The choppers roared over the stadium. The sun-splashed, international spectacle now had its might.

The crowd gasped, then cheered.

The players stood on the pitch and looked to the sky — in awe.

“To have the Black Hawks fly over like that? Even more chills,” Trusty, a native of Media, Pennsylvania, who plays professional for Scottish side Celtic FC, said.

“It gives you the extreme national pride. And it really puts your mind on who you’re playing for.

“You play for yourself,” Trusty said.

“Well, you are playing for the badge (on the chest of the U.S. jersey). You are playing for this country.”

They excelled for this country.

For the second consecutive match to begin this World Cup co-hosted in the United States, Canada and Mexico, the Americans dominated. Seven days after a 4-1 drubbing of Paraguay, the U.S. scored against Australia in the 11th minute. That was because of dynamic Folarin Balogun’s zooming run, turn and cross. Balogun created an own-goal off an Aussie defender.

Later in the first half U.S. defender Alex Freeman wanted a free, deflected ball in the air more than the Aussie keeper and center back did in front of the goal. That’s why Freeman won the header. That’s why the USA led 2-0 before halftime.

With how the Americans consistently applied offensive pressure into the Australian’s five-man defense and midfield line, the match was over. It ended 2-0.

These are the first consecutive victories for the United States in a World Cup in 96 years, before the initial World Cup in 1930.

After his third goal created in two World Cup matches, after the two he scored against Paraguay in Los Angeles last week, Balogun marveled over the spectacle in Seattle Friday. He was in awe of the anthem. Of the Black Hawk flyover.

Of the whole, Pacific Northwest soccer vibe.

“It was special. So special. It’s tough to put into words,” Balogun said.

“The national anthem. And then you are seeing the helicopters go above. It was really special.

“It just gives us — not that we need it — it just gives us that extra bit of motivation before we go out there to just go out there and, really, just go crazy.”

On the United States’ bench throughout the team’s shutout victory, then in the locker room after the Americans clinched a spot in the round-of-32 knockout stage with one game still left in group play, teammates kept coming up to Roldan.

They couldn’t get over the fervor and fandom for this match, this World Cup, for soccer, in Seattle.

“Our teammates were raving about the crowd. And the city, in general,” said Roldan, who has yet to play in two World Cup matches but says he’s ready well called upon.

“You know, some of them even spoke to me about playing for Seattle in the future,” Roldan said.

He smiled.

“That’s what you want to hear.”