The U.S. men's national soccer team dropped its final FIFA World Cup group-stage match Thursday night, falling 3-2 to Türkiye on a goal scored in the closing seconds of stoppage time.
Despite the defeat, the loss did not affect the Americans' standing in the tournament. The United States had already secured first place in Group D and punched its ticket to the Round of 32 before kickoff thanks to victories over Paraguay and Australia.
The U.S. jumped in front early with a goal from defender Auston Trusty, but Türkiye answered with two first-half scores to take the lead. Sebastian Berhalter netted the equalizer after halftime, setting up a tense finish before Türkiye found the winner in the dying moments of the match.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino rotated much of his lineup with the knockout stage already secured, giving several regular starters a chance to rest while avoiding additional yellow-card suspensions.
The Americans will now turn their attention to a Round of 32 showdown against Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1 in Santa Clara, California. A victory would send the U.S. into the Round of 16 as it continues its quest for a deep World Cup run.
