The United States concluded their World Cup group stage with a 3-2 defeat to Turkey in Inglewood, California, a result rendered academic by their earlier qualification as Group D winners. Auston Trusty headed the hosts ahead inside two minutes, but Turkey responded through Arda Güler and Orkun Kökçü to lead at the interval. Sebastian Berhalter’s long-range strike levelled the match early in the second half, and the return of captain Christian Pulisic from a calf injury injected urgency, with the forward striking a post. Yet in the eighth minute of stoppage time, Kaan Ayhan’s low finish settled a contest in which the US had made nine changes to rest regular starters.

After the final whistle, head coach Mauricio Pochettino used his press conference to challenge the narrative. “That you don’t say ‘congratulations’ because we won the group is a little bit sad,” he said, alternating between Spanish and English. Viewed from Buenos Aires, where the Argentine’s career is closely followed, his irritation was interpreted as a defence of a broader project. Pochettino stressed that the team had managed pressure and expectations “quite well” and that the true measure of success would be in the knockout rounds. “It’s a bit petty to think very small. What’s the point of winning three games if you lose the next one and don’t win the World Cup?” he asked.

The US had already secured first place with emphatic victories over Paraguay (4-1) and Australia (2-0), allowing Pochettino to rotate heavily. Four players carrying yellow cards were held out to avoid suspension, and seven squad members made their tournament debuts. Analysts in Washington note that the loss, while dramatic, does not alter the team’s trajectory. The defensive lapses exposed by Turkey’s attack are seen as correctable, particularly with the expected return of the first-choice back line. In Jakarta, the match was framed as a valuable lesson in squad depth ahead of the sudden-death phase.

The US now travels to Santa Clara to face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 on 1 July. The Bosnians advanced as one of the best third-placed teams from Group B. Pulisic’s 32-minute cameo, in which he created chances and showed no lingering effects of the injury, provides a significant boost. Midfielder Brenden Aaronson said the rotated side had gained belief from the coach’s trust, while Pochettino insisted he was “happy” and that the team’s focus remains on a deep run. The knockout stage, he suggested, is where the real World Cup begins.