US World Cup Defeat
Pochettino's World Cup Lineup Experiment Fails as US Falls to Turkiye 3-2
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Mauricio Pochettino's nine-man lineup gamble backfired in a 3-2 loss to Türkiye on June 25, ending the U.S. men's national team's perfect group-stage record at the 2026 World Cup. Kaan Ayhan scored the winner in the 90th minute — plus eight minutes of stoppage time — to hand the already-eliminated Turkish side a final farewell victory at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, before 70,492 fans.
The U.S. still finished first in Group D with two wins and one loss, scoring eight goals and conceding four across three games. But the defeat — the first time the team surrendered a lead in this tournament — raised fresh questions about defensive depth heading into the knockout rounds. The Americans will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 on July 1 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Nine Changes, One Late Defensive Collapse
Pochettino made nine changes to his starting eleven — a U.S. World Cup record — telling reporters the day before that protecting yellow-carded players was the top priority. "When you defend your jersey, your flag, it's always about pride," he said, "but it was unnecessary to take a risk," according to OneFootball. The rotated squad used a 4-2-3-1 shape with Gio Reyna in a central attacking role.
The makeshift backline of Auston Trusty, Robinson, and McKenzie struggled with communication throughout. Türkiye's Arda Güler — Real Madrid's 21-year-old midfielder — stayed dangerous all night. He scored the first equalizer in the 10th minute, then orchestrated the winning sequence in stoppage time, nutmegging Christian Pulisic before Ayhan buried the rebound, according to The Guardian.
Trusty Strikes Early, Berhalter Equalizes — But It Wasn't Enough
The U.S. made a dream start. Trusty headed home a Sebastian Berhalter corner in just the third minute. That goal, per NPR, made 2026 the highest-scoring World Cup in history. It also meant the U.S. scored first in three straight World Cup games — the first time that has ever happened in program history.
Türkiye hit back fast. Güler leveled in the 10th minute, then Barış Alper Yılmaz put the Turks ahead 2-1 before halftime in the 38th minute. Berhalter — the clear standout on a night of rotation — pulled the U.S. level again with a rebound finish in the 49th minute. Sebastian Berhalter said after the match, "We let some moments get away from us, but I thought performances overall were good," according to NPR.
Pulisic Returns, But Match Sharpness Was Missing
The biggest silver lining of the night was Christian Pulisic's return. The U.S. captain came off the bench in the 58th minute — his first action since the opener — after nursing a calf injury. He played 32 minutes without aggravating it, which team medical staff considered a win on its own, according to The Guardian.
Still, Pulisic's lack of match sharpness showed. He created three dangerous chances but couldn't convert, and it was his failed defensive attempt — Güler nutmegged him in the buildup to the winner — that drew the most attention. LA Times noted his "final execution" was affected by the weeks off. Pochettino used 23 different players across the three group games, another U.S. World Cup record, per Fox Sports.
Momentum Question Looms Over Road to Santa Clara
Analysts are split on what the loss means. ESPN FC warned that losing an unbeaten streak could "turn the good vibes toxic" ahead of the knockouts. But The Athletic argued protecting Tyler Adams and Folarin Balogun from yellow-card suspensions was "a masterstroke of pragmatism" — both will be available and fully rested for Bosnia.
One number stands out as a genuine concern. Under Pochettino, the U.S. has now lost all six matches against European teams, giving up 18 goals in those games, according to NBC Sports. Bosnia and Herzegovina, ranked 62nd in the world, are led by 40-year-old striker Edin Dzeko. The U.S. remains the favorite — but the defensive blueprint Türkiye exposed on Thursday is already out there for Bosnia to study.
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