It has been an amazing few weeks for Auston Trusty.
The defender is coming off the back of helping Celtic win the domestic double during the recent campaign, and then earning his maiden call-up to Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT squad for the 2026 World Cup.
Trusty was an unused substitute when the USA won their opening World Cup match by putting four goals past Paraguay, but on Saturday, he entered the big stage for the first time.
With ten minutes left on the clock, Trusty was introduced into the action against Australia, and it wasn’t too long before he was involved in the action.
Tensions initially flared with some handbags between home striker Folarin Balogun and opposing defender Harry Souttar.
Moments later, Jacob Italiano earned a yellow card for an off-the-ball shove on Trusty, prompting criticism that the Australians were finally showing their ‘aggression’ when it was already too late.
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Celtic fans, will you be tuning into the 2026 World Cup?
🚨 A lot of off-field noise around it 🚨
Auston Trusty reacts after making his World Cup debut for USMNT
Many people dream of just playing at a World Cup, but Trusty is not only doing that, but he is getting to do it on home soil.
After the USMNT booked their spot in the knockout rounds, Trusty took to Instagram to express his delight at his achievement.
Trusty: ‘Just two delco boys (Trusty and teammate Matt Freese) playing in the World Cup 🇺🇸 A win and a shutout as well?? LET’S GOO! Proud to represent my country and my family ❤️🇺🇸 #fifaworldcup.’
USMNT v Australia World Cup referee goes down with cramp
After Trusty came onto the field, the USA were ticking the game down, before the on-field referee, Felix Zwayer, went down with cramp.
Celtic hero Chris Sutton, who is covering the World Cup with the BBC, saw the funny side of it on social media and posted the following:
But those who had the best view of it were those at the Seattle Stadium in Washington.
Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy, who has covered many major tournaments with the BBC, stated on commentary that he had never seen anything like it.
BBC commentator Steve Bower: “Oh good lord, the referee has got cramp out there.”
Danny Murphy: “He’s actually had a good game, hasn’t he?!”
Bower: “This is an unusual delay to say the least.”
Murphy: “We have done a lot of tournaments. We have seen a lot of games. I don’t think I have seen a referee go down with cramp before.”
Bower: “I am racking my brains. I don’t think I have.”
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