USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino has reiterated his all-or-nothing approaching to winning the World Cup and claimed the mood around his teams last-gasp defeat to Turkiye made him feel the co-hosts had been eliminated from the 2026 edition. With Group D already won, Pochettino switched nine players from the win over Australia by far the most changes a USMNT team has ever made between World Cup matches and gave finals debuts to the likes of defenders Miles Robinson and Mark McKenzie, as well as bringing in goalkeeper Matt TurnerIt is a topic that I dont understand, Pochettino tetchily replied when he was asked whether his selection against opponents who were unable to progress could affect the USAs campaign.Maybe I am not showing it because your question is a little bit weird, but I am so happy and the players are happy because we performed, we competed and we [finished] first.I was talking with the Turkish channel now and I just said have a good trip back to Turkiye. Maybe I am confused, but maybe the mood or the the vibe is like we are going home and Turkey are staying, no?Table of ContentsWorld Cup 2026: Why Pochettino changed team vs TurkeyUSA vs Bosnia: Pochettino wants greater World Cup ambitionsWorld Cup 2026: Christian Pulisic injury updateUSA World Cup 2026 fixtures and scheduleWorld Cup 2026: Why Pochettino changed team vs TurkeyPochettino explained that he did not want to risk bookings or players that maybe have some problems or circumstance before his team advance to the last 32.The former Argentina international referenced Group E winners Germanys late defeat to Ecuador hours earlier.Germany lose the momentum, too, he jibed. Germany, being one of the main favourites, ends up losing.There are too many topics in in football that I dont understand. The objective was to finish first and we are first.Now the next stage is going to be a final and we are ready. We are much better than before this game, because we have players now with 90 minutes in their legs and performing who are ready to help if we need them from the beginning or from the bench.PWDLFAGDPointsUSA320184+46Australia31112204Paraguay311124-24Turkiye310235-20It is all positive and I am so positive and happy. [This] result is anecdotal. The priorities were different, beyond the fact that we also wanted to win.There were things to balance and it was the best decision. And you can also win or lose, just like Germany lost with all their [new] starters too.No-one has congratulated us on finishing first in a very difficult group. I promise you, its not easy after winning two games to play against a team that is not playing for nothing.I was a professional player for a long time and I know it is difficult and it was difficult for the boys to go out there and and try to perform.That is why I am so happy about the performance and I want to congratulate everyone.USA vs Bosnia: Pochettino wants greater World Cup ambitionsThe USAs next opponents are European play-off winners Bosnia and Herzegovina, who took four points and secured their first win against eliminated Qatar.If we win the next match, [the changes] wont have weighed anything at all, said Pochettino. And if we dont, you can say whatever you want that it weighed heavily, that it didnt weigh.We go back to football cliches, of which there are many and they depend on the result. What do you want me to tell you?Whatever I say wont convince you, and I wont convince anyone because everyone writes whatever they want or thinks whatever they want.Quarter-finalists in 2002, the USA have lost their three knockout phase matches since then. Making history is winning a World Cup, not winning three matches at a World Cup, argued Pochettino. It seems to me that its a bit small-minded [to only target the knockout stage] a bit too much thinking very, very, very small, right?What good is it to win three matches if you lose the next one and you dont win the World Cup?As for expectations and pressure, there is no problem. This team has managed it since the beginning of the World Cup.World Cup 2026: Christian Pulisic injury updateChristian Pulisic came on during the second half for the captains first appearance since being replaced with a calf injury during the USAs opening 4-1 win over Paraguay.It was important to for him to to get the feelings again after not being able to be available against Australia, said Pochettino.One of the objectives not only was to win, but to provide Christian with between 30 and 40 minutes, to get the feeling to be ready for the next game.That is important, too. Im happy because he finished well and made a good impact.USA World Cup 2026 fixtures and scheduleThe USA head to San Francisco to face Bosnia, with the winners of that match taking on the victors in the last-32 game between the winners of Group G and a third-placed team from Group A, H, I or J.Heres when the game takes place.Asterisk denotes match starting the previous day in that territory.DateStart time (BST)ETPTThursday, July 201:0020:00*17:00* Topics 2026 FIFA World Cup Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team Christian Pulisic FIFA World Cup Giovanni Reyna Mauricio Pochettino Turkey National Football Team Tyler Adams United States Men's National Soccer Team World Cup World Cup 2026 Add us as a preferred source on Google If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read DR Congo v Uzbekistan: World Cup 2026 line-ups, stats and preview, TV channel, live online stream and prediction Ben Miller 26th June, 2026 World Cup 2026: Full fixtures, dates, games, schedule and results from FIFA football finals Ben Miller 26th June, 2026 LIVE Turkey v USA Commentary, updates, goals and stats Jon Fisher 25th June, 2026 Turkey v USA: Teams confirmed as World Cup hosts look to sign off in style Tom Rostance 26th June, 2026 Turkey v USA: Predicted line-ups, preview and where to watch as USMNT look to maintain 100% record Jon Fisher 25th June, 2026 Ecuador v Germany: World Cup 2026 line-ups, stats and preview, TV channel, live online stream and prediction Ben Miller 25th June, 2026
