Turkiye vs USA Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Group Stage
Pride is riding on this final game in Group D at FIFA World Cup 2026 as already eliminated Turkiye round off things against already qualified co-hosts the USA in Los Angeles.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – ITV / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – ITVX / USA – FOX One
Turkiye preview: Woeful tournament
Vincenzo Montella led an impressive looking Turkiye side into their first FIFA World Cup since 2002 with a belief that they could even go deep as so-called 'dark horses'. However, they have already been eliminated with two defeats from two.
After a 2-0 loss to Australia in Vancouver, the Turks then succumbed to a 1-0 loss to Paraguay in their second game, failing down to break down the South Americans, who went down to ten men just before half-time due to a Miguel Almiron red card. The Turks have failed to score despite having 62 shots on goal and, unfortunately, an expected goals tally of over three.
USA preview: Impressive Americans
Things have been rocky since the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino but the USA have been much-improved in this tournament, timing their improvement to perfection as they head into their final group stage game having enjoyed back-to-back victories and wrapped up top spot in Group D.
The USA began by defeating Paraguay by four goals to one with an impressive performance in Los Angeles before first half goals, an own goal from Cameron Burgess and then a header from Alex Freeman, gave The Stars and Stripes a comfortable and impressive 2-0 victory against Australia in Seattle.
Turkiye team news: Restoring pride
As they prepare to return to heavy criticism back in Turkiye, Vincenzo Montella and his side will want to restore some pride and so may well go with their strongest eleven here.
Juventus attacker Kenan Yildiz has been battling fitness issues in the tournament but he is again expected to start alongside fellow star man Arda Guler in attack.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Cakir; Celik, Demiral, Soyuncu, Kadioglu; Ayhan, Calhanoglu; Yilmaz, Guler, Yildiz; Akturkoglu
Unavailable:
Questionable: Akgun (Injured)
USA team news: Probable rotation
After securing top spot in Group D with a game to go, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Mauricio Pochettino make a few changes here in order to protect his players.
Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson and Folarin Balogun all picked up yellow cards against Australia, while Christian Pulisic missed out due to injury. Cristian Roldan is also a doubt for the co-hosts.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Freese; Freeman, McKenzie, Trusty, Scally; Adams, Tillman; Reyna, McKennie, Aaronson; Pepi
Unavailable:
Questionable: Roldan (Injured), Pulisic (Injured)
Turkiye’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Ferdi Kadioglu ($4.3m) – Defender
Arda Guler ($7.0m) – Midfielder
Karem Akturkoglu ($6.2m) – Forward
Matchday 3 captain pick: Arda Guler
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Hakan Calhanoglu
Free kicks: Hakan Calhanoglu, Arda Guler
Corners: Hakan Calhanoglu, Arda Guler
USA’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Alexander Freeman ($4.3m) – Defender
Weston McKennie ($6.1m) – Midfielder
Ricardo Pepi ($5.9m) – Forward
Matchday 3 captain pick: Folarin Balogun
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Christian Pulisic
Free kicks: Christian Pulisic
Corners: Christian Pulisic, Giovanni Reyna
Key stats
- The head‑to‑head record between Turkiye and the USA is perfectly balanced: two wins each and one draw from five meetings. Their most recent encounter came in June 2025, when Turkiye earned a 2-1 victory in East Hartford. The sides have never faced each other at a FIFA World Cup, but they did meet at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup, where Turkiye won 2-1 in the group stage.
- This is the first time that Turkiye have opened a FIFA World Cup campaign with successive losses.
- The USA are winless in their last 12 World Cup matches against European teams (D6 L6) – since a 3-2 victory against Portugal in the 2002 group stage.
- The USA have now qualified for the knockout stages in four successive World Cup participations.
- The USA have started a World Cup campaign with back-to-back wins for the first time since the inaugural edition in 1930 and are now aiming to win three successive matches in the competition for the first time.
- The USA have completed a World Cup group without losing a match on three occasions (1930, 2010 and 2022)
- Mauricio Pochettino is now tied for the most FIFA World Cup wins by a USA head coach, with his two victories matching the tallies of Bob Millar (1930) and Bruce Arena (2002).
- Turkiye’s Kenan Yıldız and the USA’s Weston McKennie have played together at Juventus since 2023.
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Turkiye vs USA prediction
The amount of shots, and even that fairly high expected goals rate, would suggest that Turkiye have been unfortunate in their opening couple of games but it would be a bit of a stretch to suggest they have deserved much more from either game given the way in which Australia and Paraguay set up to allow Turkiye their territory.
The USA have won their group and will want to avoid too much stress in terms of injury or suspension but the Americans will also be keen on continuing their momentum as they head into the knockout stages.
It could be quite a fun watch for the neutral as Turkiye try and leave North America with something to show for their efforts and the USA play with the shackles off even further - albeit that hasn't been an issue in their opening games.
Turkiye vs USA betting tip: Both teams to score
