US vs – Two early victories have already secured the United States a top spot in Group D and clarity on its next opponent, but the team is still pushing for a win over Turkey on Thursday night—out of pride, intensity, and a momentum that they don’t want to lose.
In Inglewood, California, the mood around the United States national team carries a strange mix of certainty and urgency.
Two wins in two matches to start the World Cup mean the Americans don’t need to beat Turkey on Thursday. They’re guaranteed to finish top of Group D and know when and where—and probably who—they’re playing next.
Still, the team is treating the night like it matters anyway.
“When you win your last game, you go into the next one with that little bit of extra,” Christian Pulisic told reporters on Wednesday.
The match is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. It comes after the US brutalized Paraguay earlier in the tournament for a 4-1 win. That was followed by a 2-0 win over the Australians six days ago.
Those opening results have been historic for the Americans in more ways than one. The US won two games in the World Cup group stage for the first time since the inaugural tournament in 1930.
For American fans, the early success became permission to dream—because the US looked impressive in both games. After that start, bracket talk started spreading quickly, with hopes of a deep run growing while the World Cup is being played at home.
But the way a tournament can swing isn’t lost on anyone. Turkey arrives angry and disappointed after two losses in games they largely dominated, and they don’t want to leave this 2026 World Cup without any results.
It’s a setup that can become a trap game—exactly the kind of mental letdown manager Mauricio Pochettino has been preparing his team for all week.
Defender Mark McKenzie described intense training sessions since last week’s win over Australia and intense demands from Pochettino and his staff to stay focused. The players, he said, are having fun and are in good spirits, but McKenzie described an underlying intensity that has marked this week.
“Mauricio and the staff have been clear and transparent about what they want to accomplish in the trainings, making sure it’s sharp, intense, and making sure that we’re going into the match feeling 100% so that we can go out there and perform to the fullest,” he told CNN Sports.
Pochettino has also made it clear to the group that Turkey won’t be showing up resigned.
“It’s a World Cup match where when you defend your jersey. your flag. your future – always is about pride. ” Pochettino told reporters. “I have no doubt that the Turkish team is going to be competitive tomorrow. They have good players. of course. they are eliminated. but… we are not thinking that it’s going to be a game that it’s going to be easy. we know the quality.
“I think it’s not my choice to analyze why they were eliminated, but … in the way that they played the two games, even if they didn’t win, I think they deserve more, in my opinion.”
The US’s biggest possible boost is the return of Pulisic, if he’s used.
Pulisic sat out the second group match against Australia last week after a kick in his calf a few days before the opening match against Paraguay. He played through the opening 45 minutes of that tournament match and said the injury didn’t feel severe at first because adrenaline helped. He told reporters on Wednesday that the pain from the injury—contusion or strain. as he described it—came out during halftime. With the US already up by three goals at that point. the decision was made to sit the rest of the game. A race to get fit before the second game wasn’t finished in time.
On Wednesday, though, Pulisic said he’s feeling good and hoping to play.
Pochettino confirmed Wednesday evening that Pulisic is fit, but the decision about how much to play him wasn’t final.
“We need to decide if it’s possible to play from the beginning or be on the bench, and unfortunately, maybe to play on the second half,” the Argentine said.
Thursday’s lineup is also expected to look different from the first two games. Players such as Chris Richards, Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun, and Antonee Robinson have all been shown yellow cards so far in this tournament. Another yellow would mean suspension for the Round of 32 match on July 1.
Pochettino said it isn’t worth the risk.
“It’s unnecessary to take a risk and then take another yellow card and be not available for the next stage,” he said, “and I think that is a little bit normal and easy answer in the beginning.”
That next stage is already moving into view. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s win over Qatar on Wednesday set the stage for the Zmajevi, as they stand, to be the US’ opponent next week in Santa Clara at Levi’s Stadium when the knockout rounds commence.
The stakes of Turkey, then, aren’t about qualification. The US is already set. It’s about not losing the edge that got them there—and not letting a comfortable path become a loose step.
The tournament’s expanded format. combined with the US being a host nation and the dominant performances in the opening two games. has also made it easier for prognosticators to map a route for the US through the knockout rounds. Still. the historical record is stark: the United States has won a grand total of one knockout round game in its history at the world’s biggest sporting showcase. and it has been 24 years since that happened.
In Los Angeles and Seattle, the support for the team has been loud and proud. Pochettino described the shift from before the tournament as “day and night.” He said there’s a connection between fans and squad that feels unusually close.
“The connection was the most difficult (thing) to create,” Pochettino said. “And now when you connect with the fans and the people, it’s exciting. Our players and the team is so excited to create tomorrow here and feel the connection because that is a unique feeling and emotion that you can – it’s difficult to get another place that is the adrenaline that you like to feel in your body when that connection happens.”.
That’s the hard part, though: building excitement is one thing, keeping it is another.
The US men’s soccer team is benefiting from a summer of belief that feels almost unprecedented. Historical failings are being brushed off. and cultural and structural deficiencies in the international men’s game are being scoffed at. Fans of the team, by and large, are as confident as they’ve ever been.
It’s the kind of balloon that keeps inflating.
A loss against Turkey could be the needle that pops it—at least in the minds of the people who built their expectations on the first two games. Even if a Turkey result won’t change the US’s path for the rest of the tournament, it could shift the temperature.
McKenzie said there’s been no thought of letting that soccer love hit a speed bump.
“We’ve had two strong performances so far. but that’s not going to change our mentality. kind of pull us back from doing what we want to do. and that’s winning every game. right?” he said. “We want to win this whole thing. We came into this tournament with that mentality and not trying to stop short of that goal.”.
So Thursday night becomes more than a Group D finale. The US already has the standings it wants—but the team is chasing the feeling that comes with earning it one more time.
United States Turkey World Cup 2026 Group D Christian Pulisic Mauricio Pochettino Mark McKenzie SoFi Stadium Inglewood Round of 32 July 1
So they *have* to win? Confusing.
The headline makes it sound like they’re gonna throw the match or something. But if they already got top spot, why even risk starters?
I think it’s more like they’re playing Turkey to decide the bracket, but the article says they already know their next opponent?? Like which is it. Also Pulisic saying “extra momentum” sounds like PR to me.
Paraguay 4-1 then Australia 2-0 and now Turkey… it’s basically a full confidence thing. But “must win anyway” is weird wording, because they already can lose and still get out. Idk maybe they just don’t want to look bad in front of everyone at SoFi.