For the United States, the job is already done. For Turkey, the World Cup dream is already over. The two sides meet at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Thursday night, but they arrive in very different moods after contrasting starts to their Group D campaigns.
The USA have been one of the standout teams in the group so far. Mauricio Pochettino’s side opened the tournament with an impressive 4-1 victory over Paraguay before following it up with a controlled 2-0 win against Australia.
Those results secured top spot in Group D and guaranteed their place in the Round of 32 with a game to spare.
Turkey’s tournament has gone in the opposite direction. Vincenzo Montella’s men suffered a 2-0 defeat to Australia in their opening match before a narrow 1-0 loss against Paraguay left them rooted to the bottom of the group without a point or a goal.
That means there is no qualification equation left to solve. The United States have already won Group D and cannot be caught, while Turkey have already been eliminated regardless of what happens in the final round of matches.
Even so, there is still plenty at stake.
The Americans will want to carry momentum into the knockout rounds and maintain the confidence that has built over their opening two victories.
Turkey, meanwhile, have one final opportunity to leave their mark on the tournament, avoid going home empty-handed and remind everyone why they arrived at the World Cup with high expectations after ending a 24-year absence from football’s biggest stage.
It may not change the standings, but both teams still have reasons to make this one count.
How to watch Turkey vs USA
Turkey vs USA kicks off at 03:00 BST on Friday, June 26, at the Los Angeles Stadium.
The match will be shown live in the UK on ITV1 and STV. Fans can also stream the game via ITVX and STV Player.
In the United States, the game will be shown on FOX or FS1, with Spanish-language coverage on Telemundo or Universo and streaming via Peacock.
In Canada, World Cup coverage is available on TSN and RDS, with select matches also broadcast on CTV. Streaming is available via TSN, RDS, CTV and Crave.
Turkey team news
Turkey have looked stretched rather than settled so far, which has been the story of their group stage.
Two defeats from two — against Australia and Paraguay — have already ended their World Cup hopes, leaving them bottom of Group D with nothing left to play for.
As a result, there is little reason not to change things.
Vincenzo Montella is expected to rotate and give opportunities to players who have not had consistent minutes, with the focus now shifting entirely to pride and finishing the tournament with a performance that feels more like them.
That said, this is still a side with individual quality, even if it has not fully clicked across the group stage.
There is also the question of response. Turkey have shown flashes, but not enough sustained control, and this final match is their last chance to leave the tournament on a positive note.
Turkey expected XI: Cakir – Muldur, Demiral, Bardakci, Kadioglu – Yuksek, Calhanoglu – Akgun, Guler, Yildiz – Akturkoglu.
USA team news
Mauricio Pochettino is unlikely to reinvent the wheel for the United States’ final group game against Turkey.
The Americans have been competitive in both matches so far, beating Paraguay before comfortably seeing off Australia.
While the results have already secured qualification and top spot in Group D, neither performance suggested there is any real need for wholesale changes.
If anything, Pochettino’s biggest dilemma is whether to be cautious with rotation or keep the momentum going.
The USA know their place in the Round of 32 is already confirmed, with top spot also secured. That removes the pressure, but it also raises the question of rhythm heading into the knockout rounds.
That may tempt Pochettino to rest a few legs, although breaking up a settled side that has looked organised and confident would carry its own risk.
The midfield balance will again be important, with Weston McKennie expected to carry a major workload both in and out of possession. The USA also still want more cutting edge in the final third, even if results so far have been comfortable.
One thing feels certain. The United States cannot afford to lose their structure completely just because the stakes are lower. Momentum into the knockouts matters just as much as the standings.
USA expected XI: Turner – Dest, Richards, Ream, Robinson – Adams – McKennie, Musah, Reyna – Pulisic, Balogun, Weah.
Turkey vs USA stats
- Turkey have failed to score in either of their opening two group matches.
- The United States have scored six goals across their two World Cup games so far.
- Turkey have conceded three goals in the tournament without registering a point.
- The United States are unbeaten in their last two meetings with Turkey, including a friendly win in 2010.
- Three of Turkey’s last five international matches have featured under 2.5 goals.
- The USA have scored at least twice in four of their last five competitive fixtures.
- The United States have already qualified for the Round of 32, while Turkey have been eliminated from Group D.
Turkey vs USA Prediction
Two defeats from two has already ended Turkey’s World Cup campaign, and while there have been moments of effort, they’ve lacked the control and sharpness needed at this level. Now it’s just about pride and trying to avoid leaving the tournament without a point.
The United States are in a completely different place.
They’ve already done the job, winning both of their opening games to secure top spot in Group D and a place in the Round of 32. That takes the pressure off, but it doesn’t remove the incentive to finish well.
If anything, that’s the subtle challenge here for Mauricio Pochettino’s side. Keep the rhythm, manage the squad, and avoid drifting into a performance that feels too relaxed for its own good.
Turkey are likely to approach this with more freedom, simply because there is no table pressure left to fear. That can sometimes make teams more dangerous, especially in moments when opponents switch off or rotate too heavily.
But the gap in confidence between these two sides feels significant.
The USA have been organised, energetic, and clinical when needed. Turkey have struggled to turn spells of possession into sustained threat, and that issue doesn’t disappear just because the stakes are lower.
There is also the simple reality of form. The United States are scoring goals and controlling games. Turkey are still searching for a performance that lasts more than a few promising minutes – and a goal.
It may not be a one-sided match, especially with changes expected, but the USA should still have enough to finish the group stage on a high note.
Prediction: Turkey 0-2 USA
