How worried should USMNT fans be about Turkey loss? U.S. loses at death while starting number of backups

When the final whistle blew at SoFi Stadium on Thursday night, the USMNT hung its head for the first time at the 2026 World Cup. However, this doesn’t mean their fans need to.

Sure, the last-second 3-2 loss to Turkey was quite painful to watch. Keep in mind, the U.S. had already finished atop Group D after back-to-back wins over Paraguay and Australia.

The outcome of tonight’s game meant nothing for the Stars and Stripes. On top of that, many of Mauricio Pochettino’s starters got ample rest to charge up for Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 in early July.

Here’s why USMNT fans shouldn’t panic about Thursday night’s upset loss to Turkey.

2026 WORLD CUP HQ: Latest World Cup news | World Cup draw results | Buy World Cup tickets

How concerned should USMNT fans be about loss to Turkey?

USMNT fans should be far from concerned about the result of tonight’s match. First, the U.S. had already qualified for the Round of 32 with two wins over Paraguay and Australia. With those two teams already on three points and a lackluster goal differential, Team USA already had one foot in the Round of 32.

Fans, if anything, should feel even more comfortable about the game tonight since the U.S. rested its key players. Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, and Chris Richards are just a few of the names the USMNT rested today to guarantee fresh legs against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32.

MORE: What are the best betting promos for the 2026 World Cup?

Turkey winning goal vs. U.S.

With the final kick of the match, Turkey's Kaan Ayhan ended the USMNT's hopes of finishing undefeated in group-stage play at the 2026 World Cup. When the final whistle blew in Inglewood, Turkey emerged victorious 3-2 over the co-hosts.

Here is the goal that was scored at 90 + 8' to down Team USA in their final Group D match:

Türkiye takes the lead in the final moments of stoppage time 🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/2MJlu60wtG

How many backups did USMNT start vs. Turkey?

Tonight's starting 11 for Team USA involved not one, not two, but ten backups. The main reason was to give rest to the USMNT's main stars to ensure they are fresh for their Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Here are the backups that Pochettino started in today's match:

• G: Matt Turner
• D: Auston Trusty, Mark McKenzie, Miles Robinson, and Joseph Scally
• M: Gio Reyna and Sebastian Berhalter
• F: Tim Weah, Ricardo Pepi, and Brenden Aaronson

MORE: What are the best no-sweat bets at the 2026 World Cup?

Which key players did USMNT rest vs. Turkey?

Here are the plethora of starters the USMNT rested against Turkey on Thursday night:

• G: Matt Freese
• D: Antonee Robinson, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, and Alex Freeman
• M: Tyler Adams and Malik Tillman
• F: Christian Pulisic and Sergino Dest

Why did USMNT start backups vs. Turkey?

The USMNT started a plethora of backups in tonight's match against Turkey because they have already won Group D and are on to the Round of 32. Regardless of the outcome tonight in both matches, the U.S. locked in their No. 1 spot with their win over Australia, along with Paraguay emerging victorious against Turkey.

The U.S. took advantage of tonight's game as a means of resting their key players needed for a potential late run in the tournament. Along with that, players on yellow cards would risk picking up a next-game suspension if they were to earn another card in tonight's meaningless match.

USMNT group stage results

Here is how Group D finished after Thursday's slate concluded the group's action:

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
• E = Eliminated

When is USMNT's next game?

Team USA's next match will be on Wednesday, July 1, at 8 p.m. ET. The Stars and Stripes will play their Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina at Levi's Stadium in San Francisco, Calif.