The United States men’s soccer team entered the final group‑stage match already assured of a knockout‑round berth, having topped Group D with a comfortable margin.
A Calculated Pause
Coach Mauricio Pochettino opted to rest several starters, giving emerging players a chance to gain experience while preserving fitness for the next round.
The experiment nearly produced a draw against Turkey, but a last‑minute strike by defender Kaan Ayhan slipped past the U.S. defense and secured a 1‑0 victory for the Turks.
Despite the narrow loss, the result did not affect the United States’ progression, and the team will now turn its attention to a round‑of‑32 encounter with Bosnia and Herzegovina scheduled for July 1 in San Francisco.
In a separate development, Congo and Uzbekistan are set to meet in Atlanta as part of Group K, a clash that could determine which side advances alongside the U.S. in the later stages.
Goalkeeper Matt Turner, who has been a steady presence between the posts, remains part of the roster as the squad prepares for the upcoming match.
Coach Pochettino emphasized that the rest strategy was never meant to underestimate any opponent, but rather to fine‑tune the team’s rhythm before the knockout phase.