USA Hold Firm in Thrilling 2–2 Draw Against Turkey to Finish Group Stage
There was little sense of a dead rubber in Los Angeles, where the United States and Turkey played out a 2–2 draw to close Group D of the World Cup. With the USA already through to the knockout stage, the match still carried a restless energy, shifting quickly between control, mistakes, and sharp counterpunches.
Mauricio Pochettino used the night to rotate his squad, making several changes after qualification was already secured. Christian Pulisic started on the bench, a clear sign the staff were looking beyond the group stage and into the demands of the round of 32.
Even with the reshuffled lineup, the United States settled quickly, taking control of possession in the opening phase and carrying confidence from earlier wins over Paraguay and Australia.
End-to-End First Half Produces Early Momentum Shifts
Turkey struck first, punishing a defensive lapse through Arda Güler, who again showed why he has become such a central figure in their attacking transitions and midfield play.
The response from the United States was immediate in intent, if not instant in execution. Weston McKennie and Ricardo Pepi drove the team forward before Auston Trusty eventually finished a set-piece move to pull the hosts level.
The match didn’t settle after that. Instead, it opened up completely. Both sides found space in transition, and neither looked fully in control for long spells. Turkey took advantage again before halftime, with Orkun Kökçü finishing a flowing move that exposed gaps in the United States’ rotated defence.
At 2–1 to Turkey at the break, the visitors looked more settled in key moments, while the United States were left dealing with the cost of structural changes at the back.
Berhalter Volley Restores Balance After the Break
The second half felt more urgent from the United States. They pushed higher, compressed the pitch, and spent longer periods around Turkey’s penalty area.
The equaliser came through Sebastian Berhalter, who struck a clean volley that brought the game back to 2–2 and lifted the atmosphere inside the stadium.
Christian Pulisic’s introduction added a different edge. His movement and directness provided a different kind of edge to the US attack, forcing Turkey to stay tight and defend deeper as the game wore on.
Late on there were chances at either end of the pitch, momentum swinging back and forth much like the rhythm of the game. Still, neither side found the final touch needed to separate them.
The final whistle arrived with the score unchanged, closing out a lively and occasionally chaotic group-stage finish.
USA Top Group D as Knockout Stage Looms
Despite the draw, the United States finished top of Group D thanks to their earlier results, setting up a round of 32 meeting with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Pochettino’s rotation choices stood out throughout the night, reflecting a clear focus on managing workload and testing depth rather than chasing a perfect record. It was a useful stress test for players on the fringe, even if the structure wavered at times.
Turkey, already eliminated before kickoff, leave the tournament with something more encouraging after pushing the group leaders and ending on a competitive, attacking note.
With the group stage complete, attention shifts quickly. The United States move on, but the tempo and intensity will rise sharply from here — and there will be little margin for the kind of lapses seen in Los Angeles.
