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Türkiye will face the United States in its final 2026 FIFA World Cup group match in Los Angeles after losing the chance to advance from Group D, while the already-qualified host nation is expected to hold back several players who are at risk of suspension before the knockout stage.
The match will be played at SoFi Stadium and will kick off on June 25 at 7:00 p.m. local time, which corresponds to June 26 at 5:00 a.m. in Türkiye. It will be broadcast live on TRT 1 for Türkiye. Algerian referee Mustapha Ghorbal will oversee the game, with Mokrane Gourari and Abbes Akram Zerhouni serving as assistant referees. Omar Mohamed Al-Ali of the United Arab Emirates will be the fourth official.
In the other Group D match, Australia will face Paraguay at the same time, with both teams still on three points. The United States has already secured first place with six points, while Türkiye remains without a point after defeats to Australia and Paraguay.
Türkiye has no suspended or injured players before facing the United States, giving head coach Vincenzo Montella a full squad to choose from in the team’s final World Cup match.
The Turkish Football Federation has backed Montella despite the team's early elimination. Federation President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu said the team’s long-term target remains EURO 2028 and rejected claims that the coach could leave his post after the World Cup.
Montella also ruled out resignation before the match, saying he felt strengthened by the support around him. He said: “If there are people waiting for me to resign, they should accept it, because I am not leaving. I am not perfect, I make mistakes all the time, but there is no perfect coach either.”
Türkiye’s expected starting lineup is: Ugurcan Cakir; Mert Muldur, Ozan Kabak, Abdulkerim Bardakci, Ferdi Kadioglu; Ismail Yuksek, Orkun Kokcu; Can Uzun, Arda Guler, Kenan Yildiz and Deniz Gul.
United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino said he would not risk several players who are one yellow card away from suspension before the Round of 32, the first knockout stage of the tournament.
The players expected to be held back are Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun, Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson. Balogun had scored twice in the United States’ win over Paraguay.
Single yellow cards from the group stage are wiped out before the next round, but Pochettino said he did not want to take a needless risk in the final group match.
He said the decision not to start the four players was the natural and logical move, as he did not want them to pick up another yellow card and become unavailable for the next stage.
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The 2026 World Cup features 48 teams, with the top two sides from each group advancing directly to the Round of 32. The eight best third-placed teams will also move on.
South Korea and Canada, both on four points, and Scotland, on three points, are among the third-placed teams waiting for the full group stage picture to become clear.
The group stage will finish on June 28. The first Round of 32 match will feature South Africa against Canada.
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