6/26/2026

The US men’s team made big changes to the starting line-up for the match against Turkiye. With group D already locked up Coach Pochettino wanted to give some of the reserves a chance and also sit anyone that had a yellow card.

Turkiye 3, USA 2

Just like the previous matches the US got on the board early. A corner taken by Sebastian Berhalter found Auston Trusty who settled the ball and then fired from close range for a 3rd minute goal.  Turkiye’s Arda Güler caught the US backline sleeping in the 10th for the equalizer goal.

The Crescent-Stars took the lead in the 31st off a great run by Baris Alper Yilmaz for a 2-1 lead that would hold into halftime.

After the break the US came out with renewed energy and more aggressive. That aggression paid off in the 49th when Berhalter blasted a low shot through traffic to even the match at 2.

Christian Pulisic who missed the last match due to injury was the first sub the US made. Pulisic made some good runs early and got a nice floating shot off but couldn’t find the back of the net.

It looked like the match would end in a 2-2 draw but a literal last minute goal by Turkiye substitute Kaan Ayhan 8 minutes into stoppage time broke up the US unbeaten group stage.

In total the Stars and Stripes took 18 shots with 7 on frame and 9 corners. While Turkiye took just 9 shots with 3 on target.

Turkiye was eliminated from the World Cup before the match started but left the World Cup on a good note. The US already clinched the #1 spot in group D and will go back to their original starting 11 in the round of 32.

Team USA already knows their opponent on July 1st is going to be Bosnia and Herzegovina who finished 3rd in group B.

elisportsnetwork.com