The US men’s national team lost to Türkiye to close out Group D of the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite a strong performance from Sebastian Berhalter and the return of Christian Pulisic.
Mauricio Pochettino made a great rotation bringing in a completely new defense that included Matt Turner in goal. The game had little at stake considering Türkiye was already eliminated and the co-host nation was guaranteed the lead of Group D, but it had no impact on how the USMNT started. Auston Trusty scored in the third minute of play on a set piece when Berhalter perfectly delivered a corner to the center back.
The Celtic defender separated himself from the group at the far post, calmly controlled the ball and beat Ugurcan Çakir. From there, however, Türkiye increased the intensity and looked hungrier than the USMNT for the rest of the first half.
Arda Güler equalized for Türkiye seven minutes later, when the Real Madrid midfielder scored his country’s first goal in this tournament. Barış Alper Yılmaz inadvertently put his country ahead after Orkun Kökcü fired a shot that bounced off the striker and into the back of the net. The United States seemed to lose pace after trailing, but regrouped at halftime and started the second half strong.
Berhalter added a goal to his assist when he shot from the edge of the area to equalize in the 49th minute. The atmosphere in the stadium improved further when Pulisic came on in the 58th minute for Tim Weah. The AC Milan winger missed the win against Australia with a calf injury but looked lively. It was a risk to bring him in in a dead match, but he seems ready to go for the knockout.
The match was heading for a draw, but Kaan Ayhan had different plans in the eighth minute of added time to give Türkiye a 3-2 victory. A punch in the gut, but one that fans hope players and coaches will use as motivation in the future.
Türkiye beat a similar American team in terms of personnel in a friendly in June 2025, so the overall performance shows the growth this team has experienced in a year. Sure, the game had no ramifications for how the rest of the tournament would play out, but it’s still the setting for the World Cup. Furthermore, Pochettino did not have his first choice in defence, midfield or attack on the pitch. It’s clear that this American team believes in each other and feeds off the home crowd; The only thing left to know is when this journey will end.
If there is any criticism to take away from the game, it is the USMNT’s lack of defensive depth and awareness at times. Pochettino needs to ensure his defense corrects mistakes and remains active at all times. This was the first game of the tournament in which the United States faced adversity; The players’ response will determine their advancement in the knockout phase.
The resounding positive, however, is Berhalter. Pochettino is likely to look to involve him more in midfield given how decisive he was in the final third.
Next up is a round of 32 clash against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday 1 July. Edin Džeko and company qualified as a third-place team from Group B, marking their first appearance in a World Cup knockout stage. The 64th country in the world scored five goals, but conceded six.
The USMNT will take advantage of the opportunity to advance as the pressure increases.
