The United States Men’s National Team takes on Turkey Thursday night in its final group stage game of the 2026 World Cup. While America has clinched its spot in the round of 32, there are still many things to look for as the red, white, and blue takes the field.
The result on Thursday won’t affect potential future opponents for the United States, but the match is still very important. Between staying perfect, resting starters, and preventing more yellow cards, manager Mauricio Pochettino has important duties in the final game before the knockout round begins.
The United States will attempt to accomplish a feat it has never done in its World Cup history: win all three games of a group stage. America will attempt to do so against a hungry Turkey roster that has not met expectations.
Turkey is widely regarded as one of the more disappointing teams of this year’s World Cup. Heading into the tournament, FIFA ranked the country as the 22nd best national team in the world, a ranking that put it only five spots behind the United States, and above the other Group D competitors Australia and Paraguay.
After losing their first two group games, Turkey was eliminated from a potential knockout round appearance. Despite creating 62 shots in the first two games, Turkey has been held scoreless.
While dominating the first two games, the roster that starts tonight for the United States will not be the same as the previous victories, making the group stage sweep even harder against a team that wants to end on a high note.
Pochettino will test the depth of his roster in tonight’s game as he works around yellow cards and rest for his stars.
After being injured against Paraguay, star forward Christian Pulisic did not play in the 2-0 Group D-clinching win against Australia. While it is reported that he is healthy and conditioned enough to start, Pochettino is expected to have him come off the bench late if he were to see playing time.
Pochettino also confirmed that the team’s leading goal scorer Folarin Balogun, along with Tyler Adams, Chris Richards, and Antonee Robinson, will not play against Turkey due to all of them having a yellow card. If any of the players were to receive another yellow, they would be suspended from America’s first knockout stage game. Assessed yellow cards reset after the group stages.
Coming away with a win will continue the momentum the United States needs to advance past the round of 16 for the first time since 2002.