The United States will close their Group D campaign against already-eliminated Turkey in Los Angeles having already clinched first place and a berth in the round of 32. Mauricio Pochettino’s side made certain of top spot with victories over Paraguay (4-1) and Australia (2-0), and the dead rubber offers the Argentine coach a chance to rotate his squad. Christian Pulisic, who missed the Australia match with a calf complaint, declared himself fit and eager for minutes, though several regulars carrying yellow cards — including Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams and Folarin Balogun — are likely to be protected from suspension. American commentators note that the team has not reached a World Cup quarter-final since 2002, and the controlled start to this home tournament has generated a sense of possibility.

Viewed from European football circles, the US performances have been notable for their tactical coherence. Pochettino, who took over in 2024, has settled on a three-man defence and an intense, direct style that has yielded both results and a growing domestic audience. French analysts point to television audiences of 16 million and nearly 15 million for the first two group matches on Fox, and to the full houses at the team’s games, as evidence that the sport is gaining traction in a crowded American market. The form of Monaco forward Balogun, who scored twice in the opening win, has also drawn attention from English clubs, with reports of a €50 million valuation circulating in the transfer market.

Elsewhere, Germany secured Group E with wins over Curaçao and Ivory Coast, putting consecutive first-round exits in the previous two World Cups behind them. Coach Julian Nagelsmann cautioned that his side must “remain modest” ahead of a final group match against an Ecuador team that needs a victory to survive. In Group F, the Netherlands, Japan and Sweden all remain in contention for first place, with the Dutch facing a Tunisia side that has conceded eight goals in two defeats and dismissed its coach after the opening match. Brazil, with Vinícius Júnior scoring twice in a 3-0 defeat of Scotland, clinched Group C, while co-hosts Mexico completed a perfect Group A record with a 3-0 win over the Czech Republic. South Africa’s first-ever progression to the knockout rounds, secured with a 1-0 upset of South Korea, was the day’s most unexpected result.

The final round of group matches will determine the round-of-32 pairings. The United States already know they will play in Santa Clara on 1 July against a runner-up from another group, while Germany await the identity of their opponent. For teams such as Scotland, who finished third in Group C, the wait is anxious: they must hope their points total is enough to claim one of the eight best third-placed slots. The tournament’s knockout bracket will begin to crystallise once the remaining group positions are settled.