Turkiye Faces Rotated USMNT Squad in Meaningless World Cup Clash]
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The notion of a “dead rubber” at the World Cup feels antithetical to the tournament’s magnitude, yet that’s precisely the scenario unfolding Thursday as the U.S. men’s national team meets Turkiye at SoFi Stadium. With both sides already eliminated from contention, the match carries minimal consequence but offers insight into team dynamics and player development.
The World Cup co-hosts secured Group D victory following their 2-0 win over Australia and Turkiye’s 1-0 loss to Paraguay, Mathematically eliminating Turkiye days before the finale. The contrast in morale between the two camps was evident in their respective press conferences. While Turkiye head coach Vincenzo Montella launched into a defensive monologue questioning his team’s performance, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino took a more lighthearted approach, acknowledging birthdays of teammates and notable figures like Lionel Messi and Lakers coach J.J. Reddick.
Pochettino confirmed Christian Pulisic is available after recovering from a minor calf issue, though key players on yellow card—Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun, Chris Richards, and Antonee Robinson—will be rested to avoid suspensions for the Round of 16. Turkiye, meanwhile, contends with the aftermath of a disappointing campaign marked by missed opportunities despite statistical dominance in areas like shots and possession.
“We were the better team in both games,” Turkiye midfielder Kenan Yildiz reflected. “But football is about results. We created chances and had the numbers, but we couldn’t capitalize.”
Montella backed his side’s performance with concrete metrics—leading in shots, successful actions near the penalty area, and final-third entries—but failed to explain the lack of goals. His side averaged just 0.057 expected goals per shot, exposing poor finishing amid a barrage of ill-taken chances.
Facing a depleted U.S. backline missing center back Chris Richards and defensive midfielder Tyler Adams, Turkiye has an opportunity to salvage pride. However, the Americans enter with momentum, having claimed only one clean sheet since September.
Match Details:
Date: Thursday, June 25 | Time: 10 p.m. ET
Venue: SoFi Stadium – Inglewood, Calif.
Broadcast: Fox (English), Telemundo (Spanish) | Stream: Fubo
Odds: Turkiye +290; Draw +320; USMNT -125
Projected Lineups:
Turkiye: Ugurcan Cakir; Mert Muldur, Merih Demiral, Ozan Kabak, Ferdi Kadıoglu; Salih Ozcan, Hakan Calhanoglu; Arda Guler, Baris Alper Yilmaz, Kerem Akturkoglu, Kenan Yildiz
USMNT: Matt Freese; Sergino Dest, Alex Freeman, Mark McKenzie, Auston Trusty; Max Arfsten, Sebastian Berhalter, Malik Tillman; Gio Reyna, Tim Weah, Ricardo Pepi
Despite the absence of starters, the U.S. maintains quality depth and home advantage. Turkiye may push for an early statement, but the Americans’ rhythm and attacking options suggest they’ll prevail in a contested affair.
Prediction:Turkiye 1, USMNT 2
