The United States arrive at SoFi Stadium as Group D winners and the tournament’s feel-good story so far — six goals scored, one conceded, and back-to-back wins for the first time since 1930. Türkiye, by contrast, enter this finale eliminated and embarrassed, having failed to score in two matches despite firing more shots than any other team at this World Cup. This is a dead rubber on paper, but for very different reasons both sides will want to finish on a high.
Match Details — USA vs Türkiye
Match: USA vs Türkiye Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026 — Group D Date: Thursday, 26 June 2026 Time: 03:00 BST (Friday) / 10:00 PM ET / 02:00 IST (Friday) / Local: 10:00 PM PT (Los Angeles) Venue: SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles Stadium), Inglewood, California
FIFA World Cup 2026 Live Streaming Info
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, running from 11 June to 19 July 2026, featuring 48 teams across 104 matches.
Live Streaming Info:
Will be live on Bein Sports 5
Live Score Info:
USA vs Türkiye FIFA World Cup 2026: All matches on FlashScore have live scores.
Live Streaming by Region:
United States: FOX and FS1 carry full English-language coverage. FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports app stream live with a cable login. Paid alternatives include Fubo TV, YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, and DirecTV Stream.
UK & Ireland: BBC iPlayer and ITVX stream all matches completely free. No subscription needed — a valid TV licence is sufficient.
Australia: SBS On Demand carries all 104 matches live and completely free with no login required.
Canada: TSN airs the full tournament; CTV covers prime-time matches free of charge.
Middle East: BeIN Sports carries live regional coverage.
Live Scores: All matches available on FlashScore with real-time updates.
Group D Standings (Heading Into Matchday 3)
The USA enter as Group D winners with 6 points and a +5 goal difference — the best record in the group by a significant margin. Türkiye sit at the bottom with 0 points and -3 goal difference, having been eliminated after losing to both Australia and Paraguay. The Americans’ Round of 32 place is already confirmed; their focus now shifts to momentum and seeding for the knockout rounds.
Key Storylines
USA’s historic group stage run: The USMNT has already secured its spot in the Round of 32 following back-to-back wins — a 4-1 opener victory over Paraguay on June 12 and a 2-0 win over Australia on June 19 in Seattle. This is the first time they have won back-to-back World Cup group games since 1930 — and a third straight win would make it the best group stage in their history.
Türkiye’s talent crisis — all show, no goals: How does a side with Arda Güler, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, and Kenan Yıldız lose to Australia and Paraguay and go home after two games? Türkiye are the big disappointment of the group — out after losing both matches and playing only for pride. Despite having 62 shots — the most of any team at this tournament — they have managed to put only 13 on target and scored zero goals.
Pulisic and rotation dilemma for Pochettino: The USMNT will sit out four regular starters — midfielder Tyler Adams, striker Folarin Balogun, defender Chris Richards, and fullback Antonee Robinson — all of whom received yellow cards in the previous game. To risk a second yellow and an automatic suspension for the Round of 32 would be too costly.
Pulisic pushing to return: The other major question is whether star forward Christian Pulisic will play. Pulisic sat out the 2-0 win over Australia after suffering a calf injury against Paraguay. “I’m feeling good,” Pulisic said on Wednesday at practice. “I’ve obviously joined the team in the last few days, so I’m feeling good, positive going into it, and hopefully I’ll be able to play a part tomorrow.”
Balogun’s personal milestone on hold: Balogun can become the first American to score at least three goals in a single World Cup since Bert Patenaude in 1930 — but with his yellow card forcing him to the bench, that record attempt may have to wait for the Round of 32.
Team Analyses
USA
Recent performances: Their 4-1 opening win over Paraguay and a composed 2-0 victory over Australia signal a team with defensive organisation and attacking punch, particularly through their forwards. Pochettino’s side have looked every bit like a team built for a home World Cup run.
Strengths: Pochettino has the luxury of genuine depth. Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, and Giovanni Reyna are all competing for midfield slots, while Folarin Balogun has been the tournament’s standout American attacker with two goals from two games. Even a partially rotated lineup retains serious quality across every line.
Weaknesses: The rotated lineup may take time to find their rhythm, and the absence of key figures like Adams and Balogun from the start means Türkiye will sense an opportunity early. Yellow card accumulation across the squad is a genuine concern management must navigate carefully.
Key players: Giovanni Reyna steps into the spotlight. With Pulisic likely out, the creative spark for the USA falls to him. Against a Türkiye back line that has looked shaky, his ability to combine in tight areas and pick a final pass is the USA’s clearest route to goal.
Expected tactical approach: Mauricio Pochettino made it very clear in his Australia post-match presser that he wants to keep the momentum going with another victory. He’s already shown an ability to adapt the USA formation to both his personnel and his opponent’s strengths — expect him to set up the USMNT to frustrate Türkiye’s attackers while still looking to hit on the counter.
Türkiye
Recent performances: Competing in the finals for the second time in their history, the Turks have been a far cry from the side that finished third in 2002. Two defeats, zero goals, and a tournament exit before the knockout rounds represent a catastrophic underachievement for one of the most talented squads in the competition.
Strengths: A dead rubber is exactly the kind of game where all that talent finally clicks with the pressure off. Türkiye have real attacking quality: Çalhanoğlu, Güler, and Yıldız haven’t scored but are class players. Against a rotated USA backline, they have a genuine opportunity to finally produce the performance their squad always suggested was possible.
Weaknesses: Hakan Çalhanoğlu arrived at this World Cup as one of the more statistically active midfielders in terms of shots taken, but the team’s inability to convert their volume of attempts into goals has been baffling. Their squad has been under strain both physically and psychologically after two damaging defeats.
Key players: Kerem Akturkoglu, Türkiye’s most prolific recent scorer in the national team setup, will be expected to lead the forward line and will be eager to end a goalless tournament on a positive note. Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s ability to dictate tempo from deep remains their clearest route to unlocking a resilient United States defensive block.
Expected tactical approach: Coach Vincenzo Montella will lean on Güler and Yıldız to create through the middle with Çalhanoğlu spraying it from deep. The talent to carve anyone open is there — the question all tournament has been whether they defend well enough to back it up.
Probable Starting Lineups
USA (4-2-3-1): Matt Freese; Joe Scally, Mark McKenzie, Auston Trusty, Jakob Arfsten; Cristian Roldan, Sebastian Berhalter; Timothy Weah, Giovanni Reyna, Alex Zendejas; Ricardo Pepi
Türkiye (4-2-3-1): Uğurcan Çakır; Zeki Çelik, Merih Demiral, Ahmet Bardakçı, Ferdi Kadıoğlu; Salih Özcan, Hakan Çalhanoğlu; Arda Güler, Kenan Yıldız, Kerem Aktürkoğlu; Baris Yilmaz
Tactical Battles That Could Decide the Result
Güler vs USA’s rotated midfield: Türkiye’s game runs through whether Arda Güler can find space between the lines to dictate. Sebastian Berhalter and Malik Tillman will try to deny him time, but if Güler gets on the ball in those pockets, his passing can unlock the USA — and how that battle goes will shape whether Türkiye’s talent finally translates into a performance.
USA’s yellow card discipline: With multiple starters already booked and the Round of 32 just days away, every challenge and card shown in this match carries amplified consequences. Pochettino’s men must play with control and avoid reckless moments that could cost them key players in the knockout stage.
Set-piece opportunities: Çalhanoğlu can move into third for all-time goals for the Turkish national team with his next strike. Türkiye will seek dangerous dead-ball situations to give their playmakers opportunities to finally register on the scoresheet.
Head-to-Head Record
The teams have met three times, splitting two wins each with one draw and an even aggregate, so there is no clear edge in the history. The meetings have been competitive, which fits a game where Türkiye’s quality and the USA’s form make this closer than the group table might suggest. Arda Güler netted in their most recent meeting against the US last year.
Players to Watch
Giovanni Reyna (USA): This is his tournament moment. With Pulisic and Balogun absent from the starting lineup, Reyna must carry the creative burden and show why he is considered one of the most gifted players in USMNT history. A strong performance here sets the tone for his knockout round involvement.
Arda Güler (USA): The Real Madrid star has been misfiring all tournament alongside Çalhanoğlu and Yıldız, but with the pressure removed and nothing to lose, this could finally be the night Güler produces the magic that made him one of Europe’s most exciting young talents.
Timothy Weah (USA): “I know they’re gonna want to finish strong, so we just have to do our job,” USMNT forward Tim Weah said — and with a starting spot his to take advantage of against a leaky Turkish backline, his pace and directness will be central to USA’s attacking threat.
Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Türkiye): The Inter Milan midfielder and captain is Türkiye’s engine. If he cannot unlock the USA’s defence in a dead rubber with freedom to attack, it will represent a deeply disappointing end to what should have been a landmark tournament for Turkish football.
Team Form, Trends & Stats
The USA enters having outscored opponents 6-1 — 4-1 vs Paraguay, 2-0 vs Australia — and posted the best group stage numbers in the 48-team era. Their defensive record of just one goal conceded across two matches has been outstanding.
Türkiye’s 62 shots are by far the most of any nation in this tournament, but they have managed to put only 13 of those on target — a finishing efficiency that has been nothing short of abysmal.
The game will be played indoors at SoFi Stadium, meaning the weather will not be a factor as the match takes place inside a dome — conditions should suit a technical, fast-paced game if Türkiye can finally unlock their potential.
Prediction
The USA are deservedly favoured, but Türkiye making this awkward would not be a surprise. Pochettino’s rotated side will still carry enough quality to control long spells, and even a partially rotated lineup retains serious quality across every line. However, Türkiye — freed from the psychological weight of elimination anxiety — may finally find the goal their shot volume has long deserved.
Prediction: USA 2–1 Türkiye — The hosts close out the group stage with three wins from three, but Türkiye end their World Cup with a first goal and a performance that raises painful questions about what might have been.