Folarin Balogun of the United States talks to the media during a World Cup 2026 training session at Great Park Sports Complex on June 22, 2026 in Irvine, California. Jamie Squire/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by JAMIE SQUIRE / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
A heavily changed United States lost 3-2 to Turkey on Thursday in an action-packed dead-rubber clash that coach Mauricio Pochettino vowed would not derail the World Cup co-hosts’ considerable momentum.
Already crowned Group D winners, the US had arrived in Los Angeles seeking to extend a perfect start with a third win, but with more than an eye on next Wednesday’s last-32 meeting against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
For Turkey, already eliminated and without even a goal after disastrous losses to Paraguay and Australia, the only objective was to restore some pride.
Having gone ahead early and then clawed back an equalizer after two Turkey goals, the US fell to a Kaan Ayhan winner deep in stoppage time.
