A star player on Australia’s World Cup team spoke out against referee Felix Zwayer after a 2-0 loss to the U.S. on Friday, as the head coach and an assistant coach have now complained about the referee as well.

Forward Nestory Irankunda said the referee had a “stinker.”

“If you look at how the referee was today, [there’s] not much I can say about that,” Irankunda told reporters after the game.

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“The ref was having a stinker today, but I mean it is what it is,” he said. “He was giving every call to the USA. I get it, but at the same time, we know there’s two teams on the field, so you have to give the calls both ways and he didn’t do that today.”

Nestory Irankunda of Australia reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between the U.S. and Australia at Seattle Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on June 19, 2026. (Jared C. Tilton/FIFA via Getty Images)

Irankunda’s complaint came shortly after Australia manager Tony Popovic criticized Zwayer as well.

“I thought the referee gave too many fouls away, in all honesty,” Popovic told reporters after the match. “Sometimes you didn’t have to do much to win a foul, and on the other occasions you you had to do a fair bit to get one.

“Today was I wouldn’t say the best day for the referee. Certainly we felt we were Australia today with the referees.”

One of the more controversial moments in the match came when the Americans appeared to score their second goal. The play was initially called back for offside, but after a VAR review, officials determined the goal was valid and let it stand.

The U.S. found the back of the net at the end of the 43rd minute after a free kick was stopped, and then Alex Freeman, the son of former NFL player Antonio Freeman, headed a ball in. The score was immediately protested by the Australians, who felt their goalkeeper had been impeded or there was an offside. After a VAR review, the call stood, and the goal was awarded.

Popovic questioned the decision to let the score count, after the game.

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Tony Popovic, head coach of Australia, reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between the U.S. and Australia at Seattle Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on June 19, 2026. (Sarah Stier/FIFA/Getty Images)

“I’m not sure on that one. We felt that, but unfortunately that didn’t go our way,” Popovic said.

Meanwhile, Australia assistant coach Paul Okon argued that their goalkeeper Patrick Beach was impeded during the play.

“From what we understood, he probably impeded Beachy,” Okon said at halftime, per FOX Sports. “But, of course, the VAR decided differently.”

Popovic was seen getting into a heated exchange with the match officials after the game ended.

The U.S. scored its first goal on an own goal by Australia’s Cameron Burgess in the 11th minute. It marked the second game in a row where the U.S. scored first on an early own goal.

But despite the complaints about the referee, Popovic did give credit to the Americans and admitted his players looked “sluggish” on Friday.

United States’ Alex Freeman heads the ball for a goal past Australia goalkeeper Patrick Beach during the World Cup Group D soccer match in Seattle on June 19, 2026. (Maddy Grassy/AP Photo)

“I don’t know if it’s the occasion, but we looked sluggish, heavy-legged … They won every duel, they won every second ball and when you do that, it makes it very difficult to gain any momentum. And then we conceded two soft goals,” he said.

“When you think, you know, this noise here — host nation — I think the players show how good they are in the second half, but obviously at this level, you can’t give away that much in the first.”

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Zwayer also pulled up with a cramp towards the end of the USA’s win. The German official, 45, required help from both the USA’s Folarin Balogun and Australia’s Aiden O’Neill, who stretched out his left leg after Zwayer fell to the turf.

With its 2-0 record, the United States is in first place with six points, while Australia remains with three and in second place.

Shakur Stevenson has offered his prediction for a potential clash between David Benavidez and Jai Opetaia, describing one man as a “beast”.

Benavidez moved up to 200lbs last month, becoming a three-division world champion by dethroning Gilberto Ramirez with an emphatic sixth-round stoppage.

But despite holding the WBO and WBA titles, ‘The Mexican Monster’ has since been named as the WBC’s mandatory challenger, putting him in position to face cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian.

It was previously reported that Mikaelian would take on Opetaia later this year, yet it now seems that Benavidez has torpedoed their negotiations.

The 29-year-old is now reportedly in “advanced” talks to face Mikaelian later this year, potentially leaving Opetaia without an obvious opponent.

The former IBF champion comes off a unanimous decision victory over Brandon Glanton, claiming the inaugural Zuffa cruiserweight title in his first fight with Dana White’s promotional outfit.

Even without a traditional world title, Opetaia is still widely considered the top dog at 200lbs, while others might argue that Benavidez has already surpassed him.

If the pair were to ever lock horns, four-division world champion Stevenson has told The Agnew Podcast that he would favour the naturally smaller man.

“I’ve got Benavidez. I think he is a beast – you have to be on an elite level to even be in the ring with him.”

Despite becoming a unified cruiserweight champion, Benavidez is quite clearly a more natural operator at 175lbs, where he still holds the WBC strap.

Opetaia, on the other hand, is a fully-fledged 200-pounder and would certainly boast a significant size advantage against the Mexican-American.

File photo of Neeraj Chopra.© NDTV Library

Infinity Nikki 2.7 will be releasing across all servers on June 23, 2026 (UTC -7). This update will take players back to the Sea of Stars region for a refreshing summer event. Brand new summer-themed outfits, events, and quests will also be available for players to participate in.

This article provides details regarding the new outfits and banners which will go live once Infinity Nikki 2.7 is released.

All outfits and banners in Infinity Nikki 2.7

Once Infinity Nikki 2.7 goes live globally, a total of four outfits will be available for players to obtain:

• Rippling Reverie (new; 5-star)
• Warm Miracles (new; 4-star)
• Water’s Echo (rerun; 4-star)
• Enchanted Writing (rerun; 4-star)

Here are the details about these outfits:

Rippling Reverie (5-star)

The new 5-star outfit Rippling Reverie will be featured on the “Refrain of Reunion” resonance banner in Infinity Nikki 2.7. This outfit has a Sweet main attribute, and an outfit ability titled “Celestial Tide”, which can be used once all the outfit pieces have been collected. After using this ability, Nikki summons a wave mid-air, which she can jump and stand upon.

Additionally, this ability also lets Nikki place three Starlets nearby on the map, which act as waypoints that she can teleport to. These Starlets are temporary, and they disappear if Nikki moves too far away from them, or if players log out of the account.

Rippling Reverie can be evolved into the following:

• Rippling Reverie: Ensemble
• Rippling Reverie: Notturno
• Rippling Reverie: Waltz
• Rippling Reverie: Nursery Rhyme (full glow-up evolution)

Warm Miracles (4-star)

Players can pull for the 4-star outfit Warm Miracles on the “Refrain of Reunion” resonance banner, alongside the 5-star outfit Rippling Reverie. This outfit has a Sexy main attribute, with its special ability titled “Astral Bubbles: Whimsicality”. Upon using this ability, Nikki uses a wand to blow star-shaped bubbles in the air.

Warm Miracles has the following evolutions:

• Warm Miracles: Astral Crown
• Warm Miracles: Shimmer (full glow-up evolution)

Water’s Echo (4-star)

The 4-star outfit Water’s Echo will be having its first rerun in Infinity Nikki 2.7. Players can pull for it on the “Whispering Stream” resonance banner, and all previous pull counts for this banner will carry over to the current one.

Water’s Echo has a Sweet main attribute, and its outfit ability is called “Nature’s Nurture: Whimsicality”. Using this ability lets Nikki summon a comfortable rocking chair, upon which she perches, eating fruits from a goblet.

Water’s Echo can be evolved into:

• Water’s Echo: Wave Song
• Water’s Echo: Melody (full glow-up evolution)

Enchanted Writing (4-star)

Enchanted Writing is another 4-star outfit that will be rerunning in Infinity Nikki 2.7. It will be available on the “Magical Scribbles” banner, and pull counts for the previous banner will be honored for the current one.

Enchanted Writing’s main attribute is Elegant, and its outfit ability – titled “Scribble: Whimsicality” – lets Nikki pen down words on a magnificent, magical scroll.

Enchanted Writing has these evolutions:

• Enchanted Writing: Starlight
• Enchanted Writing: Luminous Night (full glow-up evolution)

Also read: How to craft Slumber by Blossoms legendary outfit in Infinity Nikki

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