USMNT vs. Türkiye: Statistical Breakdown
The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) wrapped up its 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage campaign with a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Türkiye. Although the result denied the Americans a perfect group-stage record, it had no impact on their position at the top of Group D, as qualification for the knockout stage had already been secured.
With first place already guaranteed, head coach Mauricio Pochettino chose to rotate his squad heavily and gave several backup players an opportunity to impress. The focus now shifts to Wednesday’s Round of 32 clash against Bosnia & Herzegovina in Santa Clara, California.
Pochettino Rotates His Squad Ahead of Knockout Stage
Having already sealed first place in the group, Mauricio Pochettino made nine changes to the lineup that defeated Australia 2-0 in the previous match. The decision was aimed at keeping key players fresh, avoiding injuries, and preventing unnecessary yellow-card suspensions before the knockout rounds.
Türkiye entered the match with nothing but pride to play for after suffering defeats against Paraguay and Australia. Despite being eliminated from the tournament, the Turkish side delivered a spirited performance and ended their campaign with an impressive victory.
Sebastian Berhalter Delivers a Standout Performance
Sebastian Berhalter was undoubtedly the brightest player on the field for the United States. The Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder produced an outstanding display by contributing both a goal and an assist.
- 3rd Minute: Berhalter’s perfectly delivered corner found Auston Trusty, who headed home his first-ever international goal.
- 10th Minute: Arda Güler equalized for Türkiye with a quality finish.
- 32nd Minute: Barış Alper Yılmaz took advantage of defensive mistakes to put Türkiye ahead before halftime.
- 49th Minute: Berhalter scored a sensational long-range goal to level the score at 2-2.
During the final half hour, Pochettino introduced regular starters including Christian Pulisic, Sergiño Dest, and Alex Freeman in an attempt to rescue the match. However, Türkiye had the final say when Kaan Ayhan found the net in the eighth minute of stoppage time to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory.
USMNT Player Ratings (4-3-3)
According to FotMob’s ratings, the American squad delivered mixed performances, with Sebastian Berhalter emerging as the clear standout.
Goalkeeper & Defenders
GK: Matt Turner (5.7)
Turner had little to do for large portions of the game but couldn’t produce the crucial saves when Türkiye took their chances.
RB: Joe Scally (6.2)
In his first World Cup start, Scally looked composed defensively and combined well with teammates down the right side.
CB: Miles Robinson (6.2)
Robinson struggled against Türkiye’s pace and was occasionally caught out of position.
CB: Mark McKenzie (5.8)
A difficult evening for McKenzie, who appeared uncertain defensively and was partly responsible for Türkiye’s first goal.
LB: Auston Trusty (7.5)
Trusty scored his first international goal and remained one of the most dependable defenders throughout the match.
Midfielders & Forwards
RM: Weston McKennie (7.2)
McKennie provided leadership and energy, helping control the midfield during key moments.
CM: Sebastian Berhalter (8.9) – Player of the Match
An exceptional performance featuring one assist, one stunning goal, and complete control in midfield.
LM: Gio Reyna (6.0)
Reyna struggled to influence the attack and failed to create many meaningful opportunities.
RW: Brenden Aaronson (6.0)
Aaronson worked tirelessly but missed an important late scoring opportunity.
ST: Ricardo Pepi (5.9)
Pepi found it difficult to create space and rarely threatened Türkiye’s defense.
ST: Tim Weah (5.3)
Operating on the left side limited Weah’s effectiveness, and he had a quiet outing before being substituted.
Substitutes
Christian Pulisic (6.0)
Making his return from injury, Pulisic looked lively and tested the goalkeeper twice but couldn’t help prevent the late defeat.
Alex Freeman (6.4)
Freeman showed positive moments after coming on but unfortunately lost his marker during Türkiye’s winning goal.
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Tactical Analysis
1. Berhalter’s Set-Piece Quality Makes the Difference
Sebastian Berhalter once again demonstrated why his delivery from dead-ball situations is among the best in the squad. Along with his spectacular goal, his creativity remained the biggest positive for the United States.
2. Defensive Focus Needed Before Knockout Stage
While squad rotation was understandable, the USMNT’s defensive concentration dropped in important moments. The late winner exposed weaknesses that must be corrected before the Round of 32.
Match Statistics: USMNT vs. Türkiye
| Statistic | USMNT | Türkiye |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 52% | 48% |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 2.01 | 3.21 |
| Total Shots | 18 | 9 |
| Shots on Target | 7 | 3 |
| Big Chances | 4 | 4 |
| Offsides Against | 5 | 2 |
| Corners | 9 | 4 |
Final Thoughts
Although the defeat had no impact on the standings, it highlighted several defensive concerns that the United States cannot afford to repeat in the knockout rounds. On the positive side, Sebastian Berhalter delivered a memorable performance and strengthened his case for a larger role moving forward. With Bosnia & Herzegovina waiting next, the USMNT must improve defensively if they hope to make a deep run in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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