USMNT vs Türkiye live online: updates, goals, score and highlights | 2026 World Cup Group D

It may not mean much to Turkiye, but they aren't going down without a fight. They get their first goal after 180 minutes of frustrating, scoreless soccer. It was the young gun Arda Guler with the goal to level things up in LA. 

McKinnie with a great run down the right touchline and he laid it off for Aaronson, who took one attempt that was blocked off and had a second that got to goal but easily taken by Cakir. 

Well that was a bit of a shock for this back line and you can just see Poch on the touchline starting to bite his nails in a bit of nervous tension for the first time this World Cup. 

You couldn't have scripted a better start for this USMNT side. The early goal takes a bit of pressure off of this XI and now they should be able to enjoy themselves for the next 80 minutes or so. 

It really is a dream start for the US in this third match of the group stages. Poch wanted 90 minutes of full gas from his starters and that's what he got over the first two games. Can this XI follow suit?

Aaronson leading the charge down the middle of the pitch and he gave it up to McKinnie who tried to return it to Aaronson at the top of the area but that was a bit behind the no. 11. 

People are still taking their seats here in LA, and already the US lead Turkiye. This is the third straight early goal for the US, and what a start from the subs. Deflating for the Turks who had nothing to play for but pride, but already a hit to their pride has been landed early on. 

Berhalter with the corner to the front post and it was McKinnie who was the closest to getting a touch. The Clearance went as far as Trusty who put it on frame and had is saved by Cakir. 

Reyna pounces on a bouncing ball in the box and has it deflected out for a corner just a minute in. 

It doesn't matter if there are subs or the starting XI on the pitch right now. This is about keeping momentum up and nothing but a win will suffice for the US. 

WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM LOS ANGELES!!!

4-2-3-1 for USMNT

The US are going with a number of changes for this game tonight. Ten in total. It's Turner in goal with Scally, Trusty, Robinson and McKenzie in the back. McKinnie, Berhalter in the middle with Aaronson, Reyna and Weah behind Pepi. 

World Cup 2026

Why are Mexico vs Czechia and South Africa vs South Korea games played at the same time? 2026 World Cup Group A

It all comes down to this

As it usually goes on the last matchday of the group stage both games and all four teams will be kicking off at the same time. Today we have Group E, Group F and Group D wrapping up their group stages. Our Cal Roche has more on why FIFA have these often impactful games on at the same time. 

The players are out of the tunnel and the final group stage match of the US is about to be underway. 

What's waiting

The USA has known they are heading to the round of 32 for quite some time now. The fact that they won the group means they have “in theory” been rewarded with an easier match up in the first knock out round. Yesterday’s match between Qatar and Bosnia and Herzegovina was essentially a playoff game with the winner almost guaranteed to meet the US in the next round. Bosnia and Herzegovina were one of the last teams to make it into this tournament with their win over Italy in penalties. A draw against Canada and a loss to Switzerland meant they needed a win against Qatar yesterday and they beat the 2022 World Cup hosts 3-1. 

Is Poch staying?

There were rumors of Mauricio Pochettino have already signed a deal to become the new manager of AC Milan even before the World Cup started. He neither confirmed nor denied those reports which made it seem like there might be something cooking up between the coach and the Italian side. Now it seems that Poch might just stick around after the first two games of the World Cup. He has been accepted by this fan base, embraced by the players and looks to be at home on the touchline. If he should take this side to unchartered waters in this tournament there might be a healthy contract extension awaiting him at the end of this campaign. 

What's left

This last two weeks have been an endless buffet of soccer. Game after game. Day after day. We still have two very busy days after this before we start thinking about the Round of 32. Here are the group stage games we have left after tonight’s Group D action. 

Friday 

Group I: Norway vs. France and Senegal vs. Iraq

Group H: Cabo Verde vs. Saudi Arabia and Uruguay vs. Spain 

Group G: New Zealand vs. Belgium and Egypt vs. Iran 

Saturday 

Group L: Panama vs. England and Croatia vs. Ghana 

Group K: Columbia vs. Portugal and DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan

Group J: Algeria vs. Austria and Jordan vs. Argentina 

Where are we?

The USMNT are back in Los Angeles Stadium for the second time in three games. They made their debut here on the 12th of June with a 4-1 win over Paraguay and they are back to close out the group stages after a successful trip to Seattle. Los Angeles Stadium is one of the newest, most modern stadiums in the country and is just one of the many stadiums that has left foreign fans speechless upon entry. This is usually home to the LA Rams and LA Chargers but soccer has taken over in LA and all over the country. 

Next round right around the corner

Usually in the World Cup there is a little bit of a come down after the group stages. Not this time. Not this year. The group stage ends on Saturday night and on Sunday night South Africa and Canada start the round of 32. That's the only game of the day, there will be multiple games from the 29th until the 3rd of July when the round of 32 ends. The round of 16 starts on the fourth of July and we will get our first day with out a soccer game after the round of 16 ends on July 7th. 

The USMNT fans  

Just because this game doesn't mean anything, don’t think for a second that it will dilute the experience here from LA. These fans have a fever for soccer that has never been seen in the history of this country. Mauricio Pochettino even compared this fan base to his native Argentina’s fan base and warned the other sports in America that soccer is gaining ground on American football, basketball and baseball. The better this team looks, and the farther they go this sport is only going to get bigger after what has been an already successful campaign by the USMNT. 

FIFA Rankings

Having a look at the ever changing FIFA Rankings, we see that the US is creeping closer to the top 10. They started the tournament as the 17th ranked team in the world and now they are 13th coming into today. Argentina still sit at the top of the list after their (Messi’s) incredible performances in the first two matches of the World Cup. France and Spain are behind them with England hanging on to fourth despite their draw against Ghana. Brazil wrapped up their group stage with a 3-0 win and head into the round of 32 as the fifth placed team in the world. 

USA XI vs Australia

There was just one changesin the XI against Australia. That was Ricardo Pepi in as a winger with Pulisic ruled out with injury. Pepi, who had a great game in one of the tune ups against Senegal, didn't do as much against Australia without his counterpart Pulisic on the pitch. They seemed to have a real connection against the African side just before the World Cup but it was Dest creating the most danger on the other side of the pitch. 

USA XI vs Paraguay

Poch seems like he his mind made up about who he wants out on the pitch when he has a healthy squad to choose from. The XI that came out against Paraguay looked hungry, they looked dangerous and they looked like a team that could compete with just about everyone in this tournament. This was the starting XI for the first match that ended in a 4-1 route over Paraguay. 

Expectation vs. pressure  

This isn't just a unique moment for the USMNT for the fact that they have a group stage match that really doesn’t mean anything because they already won the group. There is also a growing sense of expectation and along with that pressure after a couple of convincing wins in the first two games of the tournament. Paraguay and Australia may not be top teams at the World Cup but the way this team looked against them was enough to raise expectations. While many people didn’t believe this team could make real noise in the tournament, there are some who are starting to believe, and those converted doubters are now putting a little more pressure on this side. Pressure is a privilege. This team needs to embrace it and know the farther they go, the more people will start to believe. 

The best Dest

Could this be the moment that Serginho Dest becomes a USMNT legend? In the last game against Australia, the US didn't have Christian Pulisic, and the question was, who was going to step up for the US in his absence? That was Serginho Dest who was electric down the right side. He had his chances to score, but it was his shot from the top of the area that landed on the head of Alex Freeman which made the difference in the match. A match like that shows you that he is capable of taking over a game, and if he plays like he did on the right, with Pulisic on the left, this team becomes even more dangerous. 

Change up the system

Unlike previous World Cups, the format on tiebreakers has changed. They used to be decided on goal difference, but now that has been changed to head to head results. If the two teams are level on points, and drew in the head to head match, then it will be decided by goal difference. This is just one of the many changes to the tournament we have seen this year. Others being the number of teams, a round of 32, and new rules to help speed up the game and cut out delays or time wasting tactics. 

World Cup 2026

Why isn’t Folarin Balogun playing for the USMNT against Turkey at the World Cup?

Talisman out for USMNT

Folarin Balogun might be the break out sensation on this US side. He has been the most exciting player on the pitch over the first two matches, but tonight he is going to get a chance to rest and turn his attention to the Round of 32. This is a rare luxury for the US, and you might as well use it ahead of the busy days to come in the knockout rounds. 

Group D

We have known for a while now that the USMNT is not only going on to the Round of 32 but they are doing so as winners of the group. Their two wins were enough to secure their place at the top and Türkiye's two losses means they will finish fourth no matter what. That leaves Paraguay and Australia to battle it out for the second and third place in this group. Both have three points after beating Türkiye. Quite simply, whoever wins the other match in Group D will move on as the second placed team in the group while the other will hope they fall into those lucky 8 third placed teams that move on to the round of 32. If Australia and Paraguay should draw, then that will give Australia the edge of the South American side. 

Pulisic update

After being a late scratch for the match against Australia, Christian Pulisic said that he is “hoping to play” tonight against Türkiye. While seeing him on the pitch would be a great sign for the USMNT, and fans are desperate to see Captain America play we have to take into account that this is a game that doesn't really mean much for the US. Pulisic said he’s probably not ready to play 90 minutes. He has only played 45 minutes in this World Cup after being taken out at the halftime break of the Paraguay game. Ahead of this match, he told reporters, “I joined the team the last couple days and yeah, I'm hoping to play a part in [Thursday] for sure,"

Star watch: USA 

This feels like a tournament in which stars are being born for the USMNT. Sure, the die hard fans know most of the squad and where they play, but for the everyday fan and even the fans around the world that may not be so familiar with this team, there are guys who are taking advantage of the moment and making a name for themselves on the biggest stage. Flo Balogun had his coming out moment in the first game, and last game it was Serginho Dest. This game it could be anyone, but watch out for Ricardo Pepi.

USMNT XI 

Here is your USMNT XI for the third matchup of the World Cup. You can see there are only two players that are in the XI from last game against Australia and those players are Ricardo Pepi and Weston McKinnie. 

World Cup history: Türkiye 

This is just the third Türkiye has made it to the World Cup. Their first appearance came in 1956 when the failed to make it out of the group stages. The next time they would make it to the biggest international tournament in the world would be in 2002 when they miraculously made it all the way to the semifinals, beating Japan and Senegal in the knockout rounds before losing to Brazil in the semis. While this is their first time back in the tournament since then, this early elimination is seen as a disaster back in Turkey. 

Last game: Türkiye

After losing to Australia in their first match, the Turks knew they were going to have to get a result against Paraguay, but once again they fell flat. For a second straight game they failed to score a goal. They went down a goal in the first 70 seconds of the match, and had almost 90 minutes to try and equalize but they were unable to do so even with a man advantage for the final half.

Last game: USA

It was another convincing performance from Mauricio Pochettino´s men. They got off to another quick start, and for the second game in a row, it was an own goal from their opponents that opening the scoring. Folarin Balogun made an excellent run down the left touchline before turning toward goal and playing a dangerous ball into the 6 yard box. It was last touched by an Australia defender and the US led 11 minutes into the match. The Aussies couldn't do a whole lot in the attacking end, and right before the first half ended Alex Freeman scored his first World Cup goal after Serginho Dest´s shot was deflected up in the air and nodded home by the defender to double the score. They defended their two goal lead for the final 45 minutes and secured their first clean sheet of the World Cup while clinching their spot at the top of the group. 

We are live from LA  

Hello everyone and welcome to Inglewood where the USMNT are in a rare World Cup situation in which they come into their last group stage match with nothing to play for. They have secured the top spot in Group D and know they they are heading into the next round what is shaping up to be an “easier” draw for their Round of 32 match. The job is done, now it's time to close out the group stages in fashion before we get to the knockout rounds when this competition really starts to heat up. 

USMNT vs. Türkiye 

With one match still remaining in the group stages, the USMNT have already taken care of business after an impressive first two performances that secured them their place at the top of the Group D table. Tonight Mauricio Pochettino's side take on a Türkiye side who also have nothing to play for, but that is because they have already been eliminated from Round 32 contention. Nothing to play for on either side, but that won’t lessen the excitement here from LA and AS English is going to be with you all night long, providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of the USMNT´s final group stage match.