Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterOn paper, it was the first dead rubber of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.Trkiye had already been eliminated, whilst the United States had already sealed first place in their group.This was evidenced by Mauricio Pochettino's line-up, with only Weston McKennie remaining in the USMNT XI amongst the typical starters. McKennie would have been rested if Cristian Roldan avoided a muscle injury, or if Pochettino brought more than four central midfielders. Instead, he wore the captain's armband.The USA and Trkiye left it all on the pitchOn the pitch, though, it ended up so much more. The game was a breathtaking 90 minutes of football between one side looking to end a quarter-century of hurt, and the other looking to prove that they have the depth to go the distance in an eight-match tournament.From Will Ferrell to Leonardo DiCaprio, from Matthew Stafford to Dwayne Wade, just about every single Hollywood icon or athletic star packed SoFi -- scratch that, Los Angeles -- Stadium to the brim to watch the USA close out their group stage. You may like How to watch Turkey vs United States for FREE Turkiye vs United States score prediction with nothing at stake for either side The USMNT's band of brothers start as they mean to go on with dazzling win over Paraguay in World Cup opener And whilst the United States' starting line-up didn't indicate much in the way of urgency, they certainly played like it. Just as they did against Paraguay and Australia, the USA got off to an early start as Sebastian Berhalter curled in a corner kick to Auston Trusty, who controlled it at the far post before slotting in the opener.Trkiye, to their credit, did not lie down; they responded with a vengeance. Arda Gler linked up seamlessly with Bar Alper Ylmaz, and the Real Madrid man took advantage of the USMNT's second-choice backline by slotting home the equaliser.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.After 63 shots, Vincenzo Montella's side had finally found the back of the net. What's more, they had found their confidence.They made a collective decision that, even if they were going out tonight, they weren't going to leave their first World Cup in 24 years without a fight.What followed was a high-octane affair in Southern California, with both sides seemingly forgetting that the end result of this match was effectively meaningless. It was a physical, emotional battle, with rough tackles flying in and shots being executed at whim. What to read next Who is the referee for Turkiye vs United States? Turkiye World Cup 2026 squad: Vincenzo Montella's team for opening game against Australia United States vs Australia held up for bizarre reason Berhalter very nearly saw red after a studs-up tackle on Salih zcan but was instead given a yellow, a decision that would come back to bite the visitors.This apparent injustice merely served as motivation, with Trkiye taking the lead immediately after as Orkun Kk capped off a brilliant team goal.But the USA would not go down quietly, with the hosts pinning the Crescent-Stars back after the restart and equalizing from a long throw-in as Berhalter took aim and slammed in a thunderbolt from long range. Just like that, it was back on level pegging.It would stay like that until the very final second, when zcan scooped in a cross over the heads of the USMNT defenders to find Can Uzun, who split Matt Turner's legs with a deft pass across goal. Despite there being three defenders in the area, it was a Trkiye defender -- Kaan Ayhan -- who made contact and fired it into the back of the net.All things considered, it was a deserved victory for the Turks, who, despite not dominating proceedings, certainly showcased the efficiency in the final third that had been lacking in their previous two fixtures. They made their fans proud and proved that this World Cup isn't the end, but the start of an incredibly talented generation.As for the USA, they won't be worried too much by the result, apart from the fact that Trusty picked up a calf injury in the final moments. They played with plenty of heart, and whilst it wasn't enough for a point, it was certainly enough to keep their positive momentum going.The USA will head north to Santa Clara on July 1 to face off against Bosnia & Herzegovina in the Round of 32.TOPICSWeston McKennieUSAZach LowySocial Links NavigationAfter getting his big breakthrough as the co-founder of the football analytics website Breaking The Lines, Zachary Lowy has been able to tap into his footballing expertise for a number of esteemed outlets like ESPN, FotMob, The Times, The Independent and Urban Pitch. Since joining FourFourTwo as a freelancer in 2025, Lowy has been able to cover a wide range of topics from analyzing the sweeping changes to the MLS season to interviewing key figures like Asamoah Gyan and Rob Holding. Fluent in Spanish, Portuguese and Italian, Lowys versatile skillset has allowed him to traverse a number of different fields when covering major competitions like the FIFA Club World Cup. In addition to football, he is also a seasoned participant of other sports like pickleball, tennis, and volleyball.
