Sports · World Cup 2026 · Group D
Türkiyevs
USA
Thursday, June 25, 2026 · 10:00 p.m. ET · Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium), Inglewood, CA
Watch: FOX · Telemundo
My pick: USA win · locked 2026-06-24 10:01 UTCPrediction
USA to win, narrowly. The hosts have been the story of Group D, winning both games to lock up top spot, so Mauricio Pochettino is likely to rotate and rest players carrying yellow cards. Türkiye, eliminated after a 1-0 defeat to ten-man Paraguay, are playing only for pride but have the individual quality — Arda Güler, Kenan Yıldız, Hakan Çalhanoğlu — to make a changed USA uncomfortable in front of a friendly SoFi crowd. With both sides' urgency dulled, this has the makings of a tight game, but home depth edges it. 2-1 USA.
The case for Türkiye
32% to winTürkiye have flattered to deceive — 32 attempts without a goal against Paraguay told the story — but the talent is real, with Arda Güler and Kenan Yıldız among the brightest young attackers at the tournament and Çalhanoğlu controlling midfield. Against a USA side certain to make changes with qualification secured, Vincenzo Montella's players have the quality to salvage pride and finish with a win in Los Angeles.
The case for USA
38% to winThe USA have momentum and the luxury of resting key men, but the second string still carries real quality — Giovanni Reyna's creativity, Folarin Balogun's movement and the drive of Weston McKennie. Pochettino will want rhythm and a clean bill of health heading into the round of 32, and even a rotated XI roared on by a home crowd should have enough to see off an out-of-contention Türkiye.
Both cases written 2026-06-24, before kickoff — they freeze into the record exactly as written, however the match goes. The percentages are mine, quoted to a decimal because false precision is funnier — the unclaimed 30% belongs to the draw.
Türkiye 4-3-34-2-3-1 USAThe briefing
Storylines
- The USA have already won Group D; Türkiye are eliminated, so both sides' stakes are muted heading into the knockouts.
- Pochettino is expected to rotate and rest the yellow-carded Adams, Balogun, Richards and Antonee Robinson before the round of 32.
- Christian Pulisic is a hamstring doubt after missing the win over Australia.
- Played under the fixed roof at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, where the USA can expect strong home support.
The coaches
Vincenzo Montella Türkiye
The Italian has Türkiye built around young creators Güler and Yıldız, but back-to-back defeats have already ended their campaign.
Mauricio Pochettino USA
The Argentine has the host nation flying after two wins, and with top spot secured will rotate to manage cards and freshness.
Availability
| Christian Pulisic | Doubt — missed the Australia win with a hamstring strain; Pochettino weighing whether to risk minutes | RotoWire preview · 2026-06-24 |
| Adams, Balogun, Richards, A. Robinson | Available but on yellow cards — likely rested to avoid a suspension that would carry into the round of 32 | RotoWire preview · 2026-06-24 |
| Squad | No fresh injuries reported; Montella expected to name a strong side to salvage pride | Sports Mole preview · 2026-06-24 |
Availability drifts hourly in tournament week — every row carries its source and date for exactly that reason.
Watch: FOX in English (free over the air, or stream on Fox One) and Telemundo in Spanish (stream on Peacock); the free Tubi simulcast carries Telemundo's Spanish feed. (NBC News / FOX Sports World Cup TV schedule, as of 2026-06-24)
Weather: Fixed roof at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles (Inglewood) — a controlled environment, no forecast needed for the late kickoff. (Venue (fixed roof), as of 2026-06-24)
Referee: Jesús Valenzuela (Venezuela). (FIFA match appointments via the World Cup officials list (ESPN / Wikipedia), as of 2026-06-24)
Venue: Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium), Inglewood, CA, United States — FIFA strips sponsor names for the tournament; the everyday name is in parentheses.
