NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
The United States men’s national team left the field at Los Angeles Stadium on Thursday night with its first blemish of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but little else changed.
A dramatic 3-2 loss to Turkey deprived the Americans of a perfect group stage record when Kaan Ayhan scored on the final kick of the game in the eighth minute of stoppage time. But for a U.S. team that had already secured first place in Group D and a place in the round of 16, the night’s goals went beyond just picking up three more points.
Avoid injuries and red cards. If Mauricio Pochettino’s side manage to achieve this, they could officially look towards the knockout stages.
Mission accomplished.
The ongoing debate before Thursday night’s final group stage match centered on the importance of momentum for the United States. A third straight victory would have propelled the undefeated United States into the knockout stage, but the team’s starting lineup made it clear that the priority was preserving a healthy and available squad. Pochettino missed nine new starters in the match, including eight players making their first World Cup starts.
The new team would have almost won the victory if not for Türkiye’s late goal, which literally came on the last kick of the ball.
According to FOX Sports soccer analyst Zlatan Ibrahimović, the result is unlikely to change the way the United States views the World Cup.
“It doesn’t matter, because now the real business against Bosnia and Herzegovina begins,” Ibrahimović said. “This game was more about putting in the legs that hadn’t played so far and giving them some minutes. The result won’t change anything.”
Perhaps the most encouraging development came in the second half when captain Christian Pulisic came on in the 58th minute. The American star had not played since injuring his calf in the first half of the tournament opener against Paraguay, but looked sharp and healthy in his return.
“When he’s on the field, anything can happen for Team USA,” said Thierry Henry, senior soccer analyst at FOX Sports.
Christian Pulisic entered the field in the 58th minute of the United States’ loss to Turkey after injuring his calf in the World Cup opener against Paraguay. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP via Getty Images)
Henry considered Thursday’s result a victory in almost every way, aside from the final score itself.
“Nobody got hurt. Keep it up. That’s the one thing they didn’t do because they didn’t win,” he said.
Now the focus is entirely on Bosnia and Herzegovina, who finished third in Group B after a draw against Canada, a heavy defeat against Switzerland and a 3-1 victory against Qatar.
For the United States, the mission was always to survive and advance. Pochettino’s side did just that, winning Group D and reaching the round of 16 with their most important player healthy and available.
“You qualified. You won the group. That was the goal. That was the goal,” Henry said. “Now play against Bosnia and we will see what can happen.”
