United States advanced as group winners despite a dramatic 3-2 loss to Turkey, conceding a 98th-minute winner after mostly reserves were on the field. Christian Pulisic returned from a calf issue, looked sharp—hitting the post and forcing a fine save—but the late collapse raises fresh questions about depth, game management and how Mauricio Pochettino will manage minutes heading into the Round of 32 against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
USA lose late to Turkey but still top the group
The United States men's national team finished group play with a 3-2 defeat to Turkey after conceding in the 98th minute while featuring mostly reserve players. The result stings in the moment, but it does not alter the bigger picture: the US finished first in the group and moves on to the Round of 32 in the World Cup.
How the match unfolded
Turkey struck late to snatch the victory, capitalizing on a game that had opened up with both sides rotating personnel. The stoppage-time winner masked a performance in which the US created chances and, at times, controlled tempo despite fielding backups late.
Christian Pulisic’s return and immediate impact
Christian Pulisic returned to action after missing the previous group game and appeared unconcerned by the calf problem that sidelined him earlier. After coming on in the second half he smashed a shot off the post and forced Turkey goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir into a sharp save, underlining his ability to change a game even when not starting.
"I felt healthy, I felt good, so it was really nice to be back with the team and get some minutes," Pulisic said after the match. "I felt good with the ball. It was a tough way to end for us for sure, but at the end of the day, we win the group, and we just have to look forward to next week."
What this means for the US heading into knockout play
Advancing as group winners buys the US favorable positioning on paper, but the last-gasp defeat exposes vulnerabilities. Conceding so late with reserves on the pitch highlights issues around concentration, match management and the quality of depth — areas that matter in single-elimination knockout rounds.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino now faces selection decisions. Pulisic’s evident comfort returning from a calf issue gives the coach a clear option to deploy a match-winner, but minutes will need to be balanced across a squad that must withstand the intensity and physical toll of knockout soccer.
Next opponent: Bosnia-Herzegovina
The US will face Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32. Bosnia qualified as the highest-ranked third-place team after a draw with Canada, a heavy loss to Switzerland and a win over Qatar. They are a resilient, counter-attacking side capable of punishing lapses, so the US must sharpen late-game focus and rotate smartly.
Key takeaways and tactical implications
Pulisic’s return is the clear positive: he brings creation and finishing urgency that the US will need. Yet the late collapse is a reminder that tournament progression depends as much on mental toughness and bench reliability as on starting XI quality.
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Expect Pochettino to tighten substitution patterns and emphasize game management in training this week. If the US shore up concentration in stoppage time and extract consistent contributions from depth players, they remain a dangerous knockout contender.
Newsweek
