The US men’s national team have already made history this summer. They scored the most goals they ever have in a single World Cup game, won two straight games in the tournament for the first time in the modern era, and wrapped up top spot in an evenly-matched Group D with a game to spare.
On Thursday evening Here they faced a far more familiar foe: World Cup adversity. And in the key moments – the kind of spots where knockout games are won and lost – they wilted. Kaan Ayhan’s goal with the last kick of the game sealed a 3-2 win for Turkey, giving their disastrous tournament a positive ending. It also means the Americans go into last 32 – where they will play Bosnia and Herzegovina – with fresh questions.
Mauricio Pochettino told journalists he expected to be congratulated for leading the US to a first-place finish in the group and found questions about the dead-rubber loss “weird”.
“The objective was to finish first, and we are first, and now is the next stage, and it’s going to be a final, and we are ready,” the USA head coach said. “I think it’s all positive, and I am so positive, and I am happy. Maybe I am not showing because your questions are a little bit weird, but I am so happy, and the players are happy, because I think we perform, we compete, and we are first … Maybe I am confused, but the mood, the vibes [in here] is like we go home tonight and Turkey stays.”
Asked by the Guardian about which ways he felt his team could improve collectively after the loss, Pochettino said the team had yet to be congratulated for topping the group.
“I think we are much better team now than before. I think it’s not easy to do after winning two games, preparing for the next stage and playing a team that is not playing for nothing. It was difficult for the boys to go there and try to perform and that’s why I’m so happy about the performance.”
In front of 70,492 fans at Los Angeles Stadium, the Americans’ task didn’t initially look as if it would be so hard. Just as they had against Paraguay and Australia, the US went up early, this time thanks to a surprising strike from defender Auston Trusty. But the US backline crumpled under pressure in crucial moments later in the half, giving up two goals from Arda Guler in the 10th minute and Orkun Kokcu in the 31st. It was the first time the US had trailed at this tournament.
Eventually, though, there was a fightback. Sebastian Berhalter equalized just after half-time with a well-hit volley. The US had several other chances that could have changed the result.
After winning over sceptics and blitzing through Paraguay and Australia with a fluid backline, the US reverted to a more traditional flat back four against Turkey – the same look that Belgium exploited en route to a 5-2 win in a March friendly, and that the US struggled to defend in for most of 2025. That trend continued for much of the first half after Trusty’s goal, with Guler’s equaliser a prime example. The Real Madrid star pounced on a scattered backline with a knifing run, using Baris Alper Yilmaz as a screen, before losing Mark McKenzie and finishing easily past Matt Turner.
Turkey’s second goal also took advantage of lost individual battles. In midfield, the otherwise excellent McKennie was beaten in the air, with Turkey putting together a nice third-man pattern play in response that left Joe Scally stranded. Eren Elmalı’s cutback to Kökçü was on time – and it had enough pace that it didn’t need a solid finish to find the back of the net.
The US looked a different team from the momentin the second half began – pressing more aggressively, tightening up defensively, and generally shaking off the lacklustre energy that typified their opening stanza.
They proved to be opportunistic, too. Latching on to a corner that went uncleared, Berhalter stepped up and fired a low, pacy half-volley that dipped inside the near post. He sprinted straight to the ball, ran past the bench swearing and slammed the ball directly on to the centre circle, eager to get play restarted so the US could find a third.
That US goal would never come, though the Americans had their chances. Christian Pulisic, who came on as a substitute and looked bright after his return from injury, saw two chances narrowly miss. In one wild sequence in the 63rd minute, his deflected effort caromed off the crossbar before McKennie’s follow-up was blocked.
T he dagger came in the dying seconds. Excellent work at the corner saw Guler slip free of two defenders, and his cross found Ayhan unmarked at the far post. He made no mistake with his finish, abruptly changing the mood in the stands – and in the US locker room as well. This US team has talked continuously about the “brotherhood”. About the full effort of all 26 players, and how no one is guaranteed playing time, or much of anything else. In essence, they preach collective accountability.
If the lessons from the defeat are taken on collectively, sharpening the mindset of first- and second-choice players alike, the US may have just gottenhad their most heartening boost. World Cup knockout rounds are built on getting punched, and punching back. They will try to leave this latest hit behind.