The final Group D fixture pits an already eliminated Turkey against a United States side that has locked up top spot and a round of 32 berth at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on 26 June, with kickoff at around 10 p.m. ET. Both sides have real reasons to care despite the lopsided stakes. The USA can become the first American side this century to sweep a World Cup group, while Turkey are desperate to leave with something after two goalless defeats ended their 24-year wait for a World Cup return.
Montella and Pochettino met once before as national team coaches, with Montella getting the better of it in a June 2025 friendly that Turkey won 2-1. At club level, Montella held the advantage in Europa League encounters where his teams pressed high and pounced on transitions. Pochettino knows what's coming: compact defensive blocks that absorb pressure and break quickly once Turkey win the ball back.
Turkey arrived in the United States with momentum from their qualifying playoff, beating Romania and Kosovo before the tournament but it hasn't carried over into Group D. They lost 1-0 to Paraguay and 2-0 to Australia without scoring in either match and whatever confidence they built in pre tournament friendlies against Venezuela and North Macedonia has largely evaporated. They simply haven't been able to hurt anyone at this level.
The United States, by contrast, have been genuinely impressive. A 4-1 win over Paraguay and a 2-0 defeat of Australia gave them six points and a plus five goal difference with two clean sheets and the narrow friendly loss to Germany before the tournament now reads as a blip rather than a warning sign. Pochettino's side have turned possession into goals.
Montella is expected to name something close to a full strength side, with Kenan Yildiz set to shake off a calf concern and start. No suspension concerns hamper selection, so Turkey can field their strongest attacking lineup.
Pochettino has considerably more to juggle, with Christian Pulisic doubtful through a calf issue and Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun, Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson all one yellow card away from a knockout stage ban and expected to be rested. Matt Freese, Joe Scally, Mark McKenzie and Ricardo Pepi are among those in line to start.
Montella's 4-2-3-1 is built around Hakan Calhanoglu pulling strings in midfield, with Arda Guler and Yildiz given licence to find space in behind. The press relies on quick vertical passes to skip lines once Turkey win the ball back and against a heavily rotated American midfield Turkey could force turnovers in the attacking third. Pochettino's system doesn't change much even with wholesale rotation: wide fullbacks, inverted wingers and quick combinations through Giovanni Reyna and Timothy Weah, with Brenden Aaronson or Johnny Cardoso providing the energy underneath. If Turkey are going to score, Calhanoglu's dead ball delivery is where they are most likely to create something against a rotated backline still finding its shape.
The USA hold a slim historical head to head edge, though Turkey's 2-1 friendly win on American soil last year complicates that picture and with no prior World Cup meeting between these nations, neither side has much history to draw on.
Set pieces could matter more than usual with experimental lineups on both sides. Calhanoglu is one of the best dead ball specialists in Europe and a rotated USA backline may struggle to organise quickly against his deliveries. Turkey are also dangerous from long throws and corners when the first ball isn't cleared. Conditions in Los Angeles should be warm and dry, which suits the side pressing higher in the first half before the heat and a lack of competitive edge starts to show in the second half.
Turkey 2-1 United States. Wholesale rotation, four yellow card absences and the luxury of knowing advancement is already secured leaves Pochettino's side genuinely exposed, with a starting XI missing Pulisic, Adams, Balogun and Robinson. Calhanoglu and Guler will have more space to operate against a midfield missing Adams and Cardoso than they've had all tournament and Montella's press should find gaps. A win would also make Montella's case for keeping the job through the next qualifying cycle considerably easier.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
