The USA face Türkiye in a Group D showdown on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Kick-off is at 10:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM PT. This match could decide who tops the group. Both nations arrive knowing a victory shapes their knockout-round path.
Match Preview
The match is full of subplots. A young Turkish side ending a 24-year World Cup absence meets a USA team playing on home soil, in front of a crowd that expects them to advance.
The USMNT holds the highest FIFA ranking in Group D at No. 16. Türkiye are close behind at No. 22. The gap on paper is slim. Both sides will be battle-tested after two earlier group games.
The USA lost to Portugal, Belgium and Costa Rica in their last qualifying window, raising real questions about their defensive shape. Türkiye, by contrast, qualified through the UEFA playoff without conceding a goal in their final two matches.
A recent USA win over Senegal in a friendly gave them a confidence boost, with Pulisic and Balogun both starring. Momentum, however, counts for little if the defensive shape remains fragile.
Key Players to Watch
Christian Pulisic (USA) is the creative engine for the hosts. Pulisic has recorded 42 goals and 27 assists across 134 appearances for AC Milan. He is the man Pochettino’s system is built around.
Folarin Balogun and Timothy Weah will also be relied upon heavily. The USA are a top-heavy team, and Pochettino has been searching for a way to protect a questionable defence.
Arda Güler (Türkiye) is the player every neutral will come to watch. The 21-year-old Real Madrid playmaker recorded 4 goals and 9 assists for Los Blancos in 2025–26 and is one of the most technically gifted young players in world football.
Hakan Çalhanoğlu provides tactical structure at Inter Milan, allowing Güler to operate freely. Kenan Yıldız added 10 goals and 7 assists in Serie A this season for Juventus. This is a formidable Turkish attacking trident.
Injury Watch: Both Arda Güler and Hakan Çalhanoğlu carry fitness doubts heading into the tournament. For the USA, Cardoso is out, with Carter-Vickers and Tessmann listed as doubtful.
Predicted Lineups
USA (3-4-2-1) — Pochettino
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Matt Turner |
| CB | Chris Richards |
| CB | Tim Ream |
| CB | Antonee Robinson |
| WB (R) | Sergiño Dest |
| MF | Tyler Adams |
| MF | Weston McKennie |
| WB (L) | Joe Scally |
| AM | Christian Pulisic |
| AM | Timothy Weah |
| ST | Folarin Balogun |
Türkiye (4-2-3-1) — Montella
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Altay Bayındır |
| RB | Zeki Çelik |
| CB | Merih Demiral |
| CB | Samet Akaydin |
| LB | Ferdi Kadıoğlu |
| DM | Hakan Çalhanoğlu |
| DM | Okay Yokuşlu |
| RM | Baris Alper Yılmaz |
| AM | Arda Güler |
| LM | Kenan Yıldız |
| ST | Kerem Aktürkoğlu |
Head-to-Head Record
These two sides have met four times. Türkiye lead the series with 2 wins to the USA’s 1, with one draw. Their most recent meeting was a June 2025 friendly in Connecticut, where Türkiye won 2-1 thanks to goals from Arda Güler and Kerem Aktürkoğlu.
Most of the top American attackers were not in the squad for that defeat, however. With Pulisic, Balogun, McKennie and others now available, the USMNT are at an equal or higher talent level compared to Türkiye. The history is tight. The context is different.
Prediction & Odds
USA are slight favourites. Pochettino’s home advantage at SoFi Stadium and the crowd factor give the USMNT an edge, but Montella’s system creates genuine problems for possession-heavy sides.
Türkiye’s odds to win Group D stand at 15/8 (34.8% implied probability). The market largely expects both teams to advance — the real question is who finishes first.
The team that wins the wide duels likely wins the match. Güler’s ability to receive on the half-turn and thread passes into the final third is world-class. McKennie’s job is to disrupt that rhythm with aggressive pressing.
Our Prediction: USA 2–1 Türkiye. Home advantage and Pulisic’s quality prove decisive. But this will not be comfortable.
How to Watch USA vs Türkiye — TV Channels by Region
| Region | Channel | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| USA (English) | FOX / FS1 | Cable / FOX Sports App |
| USA (Spanish) | Telemundo / Peacock | Cable / Streaming |
| UK | ITV / BBC | Free-to-air / iPlayer / ITVX |
| Arab World | beIN Sports | Satellite / beIN Connect |
| Türkiye | TRT | Free-to-air national broadcast |
The match will be broadcast on FOX in English and Telemundo/Peacock in Spanish. Both channels are available on cable and major streaming platforms.
Arab viewers can follow the action live on beIN Sports Arabia, with commentary in Arabic across the region.
Follow all World Cup 2026 coverage at infosport.co — your home for global and Arab football news.
