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.”

In front of a roaring Seattle crowd, the U.S. men's soccer team on Friday defeated Australia 2-0 in its second World Cup match, clinching a spot in the Round of 32 in the process.

Despite missing star attacking midfielder Christian Pulisic to a calf injury, the U.S. put on a spectacular performance against a gritty Australian team.

The U.S. showed that its 4-1 win over Paraguay in its opener was no fluke. From the first whistle, the U.S. took control of the game, dominating possession and putting the Socceroos on their heels.

The U.S. opened the scoring in the 11th minute with an own goal from Australia's Cameron Burgess, who mishandled a brilliant run and pass from U.S. forward Folarin Balogun into his own net. 

"I want to be dangerous, I want to create opportunities," Balogun said after the match. "It might not always be myself that scores, but if I can force an error that gives us the lead, then for me it's like a goal as well. It was a special start to the game to give us the momentum."  

U.S. right back Alex Freeman — the youngest player on the team at 21 and son of Super Bowl champion Antonio Freeman —doubled the score in the 43rd minute when he put in a header off a deflected shot that rebounded off Australia's defensive line for his first career World Cup.

The win puts the U.S. at the top of Group G with 6 points. It faces Turkey in its final match on June 25 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

"C.P. is a fantastic player — the quality and the leadership that he gives us," said Balogun, who scored two goals in the victory over Paraguay on June 12. "We didn't have him today, but I think you saw we're still capable to go out there and get a result and put up a performance."

Australia was never able to recreate the magic of its World Cup opener last week, when it shocked Turkey 2-0. Sitting on 3 points, it will likely need at least a tie in its final group match against Paraguay to ensure it goes through to the next round.

Prior to the match, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said he wanted his team to match Australia's intensity.

"I think we need to play on the edge of the line," Pochettino said, "with not crossing the lines of the rules."

The last time the Americans served as World Cup hosts in 1994, they advanced by being one of the best third-place teams. They then lost to eventual champion Brazil in their next match, which was in the round of 16.  

Freeman, meanwhile, spent much of the last two years vying for a spot on the U.S. roster. He was a starter for Orlando City of Major League Soccer, but had to battle with more experienced defenders to get selected. A few months before the World Cup, he gambled on himself.

In January, Freeman accepted a move to Villarreal of La Liga, accepting a smaller role than what he enjoyed with Orlando.

Two months earlier, Freeman impressed Pochettino in his 13th international appearance, scoring two goals against Uruguay in a 5-1 victory on Nov. 18.

He made an immediate impact in the World Cup, playing all 90 minutes in the U.S. opener against Paraguay. Freeman assisted on Gio Reyna's extra-time goal in the 4-1 victory.

Tickets to the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup may be scarce and very expensive, but there are several ways soccer fans can watch all 104 matches scheduled across the United States, Mexico and Canada in the tournament now underway. 

"Imagine, with this World Cup, a Super Bowl every single day for five weeks," U.S. team captain Tim Ream told CBS News, adding, "It's not an accident that 5 billion people will be watching."

FOX and NBCUniversal have the broadcasting rights for the 78 games being played in the U.S., as well as the 13 apiece in Canada and Mexico. A record of 40 matches, or more than a third of the World Cup, will air during primetime on FOX, according to the broadcaster. 

For Spanish-language broadcasts, every single match will air on NBC-owned Telemundo and Universo.

All matches will also be available for on-demand streaming on several platforms. Here's what to know.

Viewers with a TV antenna, or access to the FOX network channel through a smart TV, can watch 70 of the matches for free. The rest will air on Fox Sports 1, a cable channel.

Ninety-two of the 104 matches can be watched for free in Spanish on Telemundo. The rest of the matches in Spanish will air on Universo, a cable network. 

For cord-cutters, the World Cup opening match on June 11 between Mexico and South Africa, as well as the United States' opening match against Paraguay on June 12, were available to stream for free on Tubi, an ad-supported streaming service owned by Fox. 

All matches are available to stream through FOX One, the FOX Sports app, while Peacock has exclusive Spanish-language streaming rights. All matches will also be available on other streaming providers like YouTube TV, Fubo or Hulu + Live TV, for a subscription fee.

You can follow World Cup news and highlights throughout the tournament at CBSSports.com.

The U.S. World Cup team are playing three matches in the group stage. Their Group D opponents are Paraguay, Australia and Turkey, in that order. 

In their first match on Friday, June 12, the U.S. defeated Paraguay 4-1 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

The U.S. has a 3 p.m. ET kickoff against Australia at Lumen Seattle on Friday, June 19, and then a 10 p.m. ET start on Thursday, June 25, back at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood against Turkey. 

The tournament began on June 11, with co-host Mexico playing the opener in Mexico City against South Africa. The U.S. and Canada played their first games a day later in Los Angeles and Toronto, respectively. The group stage runs until June 27. 

Here is the broadcast schedule: 

June 11

June 12

June 13

June 14

June 15

June 16

June 17

June 18

June 19

June 20

June 21

June 22

June 23

June 24

June 25

June 26

June 27

Round of 32:

June 28

June 29

June 30

July 1

July 2

July 3

Round of 16:

July 4

July 5

July 6

July 7

Quarterfinals:

July 9

July 10

July 11

Semifinals:

July 14

July 15

Third-place match, July 18:

World Cup Final, July 19: