Everything To Know About USA vs. Türkiye: Storylines, Projected Lineup, Predictions

With the USA's spot in the 2026 World Cup round of 32 clinched and the top spot in Group D secured, one might assume that the team's final group stage match against Türkiye at Los Angeles Stadium on Thursday is, to put it lightly, inconsequential. 

That sentiment is not shared within the U.S. men's national team, which will be looking to win its third straight World Cup match.

Here is everything to know about USA vs. Türkiye in their group-stage finale:

(Photo by John Dorton/USSF/Getty Images)

U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino confirmed on Wednesday what everyone already knew: None of the four Americans who picked up a yellow card in one of the first two group wins will be in his starting 11 against the already-eliminated Turks.

Expect several other mainstays who came into the World Cup camp either nursing an injury or having recently returned from one — Sergiño Dest, Chris Richards, Antonee "Jedi" Robinson and 38-year-old captain Tim Ream among them — to also get a well-earned rest. The question that remains unanswered is whether headliner Christian Pulisic will be in Poch’s 11. Although Pulisic insisted before the final pre-game training session that he’s available after recovering from a sore calf, he admitted that playing 90 minutes isn’t likely. The hunch here is that the AC Milan man comes off the bench in the second half.  — Doug McIntyre

(Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

This week, I’m going with striker Ricardo Pepi. He started his first World Cup match last week vs. Australia with Christian Pulisic out due to a calf injury. This week, I expect him to start again given that Folarin Balogun is sitting on a yellow card.

Coach Mauricio Pochettino said Wednesday he plans to rest the four