Thursday, October 1, 2026
73 ° Clear
73 ° Clear
The USMNT have already secured their spot in the knockout phase of the World Cup, but still have one last group stage game against Türkiye to conquer before things get juicy. While this will largely be a tune-up game, it's still an important one for the US for several reasons. Here's everything you need to know before tonight's kickoff.
Who: USMNT vs Türkiye (Group D)
When: June 25, 10PM ET
How: FOX, Telemundo
The Stars & Stripes couldn't have asked for a better start to this tournament and will be looking to do something they have never accomplished in their World Cup history - winning every group stage game. This is the dream scenario for US fans. Pocchetino has been a welcomed addition as Coach and breakouts from young stars like Folarin Balogun have instilled a real sense of confidence in camp.
The team has scored six goals through its opening two games, one short of a team record for a World Cup, and one they'll look to hit today.
There is one wildcard to note, however - whether or not Christian Pulisic plays. The star forward left the opening matchup with a small knock and missed the second game entirely. While there's no reason to play him tonight, it may make sense to get his fitness back up to peak before the intensity ramps up and he's expected to be at his best.
Türkiye's performance has been shocking to many. Often seen as an underdog, they're yet to score a goal this tournament, and if that holds, would be the first time in their own World Cup history that this has happened.
But make no mistake, they're playing for pride tonight and to go out with a bang. The US should not walk into this game complacent as they could well be caught by surprise, and a bad result would obviously raise questions no matter the circumstance.
On paper, this should be another comfortable win for the USMNT. I can't see Türkiye being able to do much against what has become an impressive backline, and there's too much confidence up top for a team already low on morale to handle, especially when playing against the host nation.
Score prediction: USMNT 2-0 Türkiye
