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Well, this is uncharted territory. The U.S. men's national team is heading into its final group stage match at the World Cup... and isn't fighting for survival.
The Stars and Stripes have made a historic run on home turf this summer, locking up first place in Group D with a game to spare after dominant victories over Paraguay and Australia. Thursday's closing match against Türkiye carries zero implications for the tournament standings, with the Crescent-Stars already eliminated and heading home.
So, what does USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino do? The U.S. has never been in this situation before, putting him in position to set a new precedent. Does he field every key starter as usual? Does he take a bold approach? Pochettino is well known for his willingness to experiment, but how far will he push that on soccer's biggest stage?
Same Formation, Different Faces
Pochettino will likely stick with a 4-2-3-1 formation, the same setup the USMNT deployed against Türkiye back in June 2025, the last time these two sides met. It also happens to be the formation Türkiye favors, setting the stage for a tactically even contest.
The first factor Pochettino must address when building his lineup is yellow card accumulation. Four players enter the Türkiye fixture already carrying a booking: Tyler Adams, Antonee Robinson, Chris Richards, and Folarin Balogun.
These four will need to tread carefully. If any of them picks up another yellow card in Matchday 3, they will serve an automatic suspension, ruling them out of the crucial round of 32. Under FIFA's updated World Cup rules, however, all yellow cards are cleared at the conclusion of the group stage and again after the quarterfinals. This means the four Americans simply need to come through the Türkiye match without a booking, and their records will be wiped clean.
What's the safest way to ensure they get through the Türkiye match without incident? Keep them out of it entirely.
USMNT's Projected Lineup vs. Turkiye
Sure, this group forms the backbone of Pochettino's first-choice lineup and could have a significant impact on the match. That's precisely why resting them makes sense. There's no point risking them in a meaningless game, only to potentially lose them for a match that truly matters in the competition.
Ricardo Pepi, who shone alongside Balogun in a two-striker setup against Australia, is more than capable of leading the line on his own. He was outstanding for PSV Eindhoven last season, netting 16 goals across 16 starts in the Dutch Eredivisie. Goals may be Balogun's calling card, but Pepi is no stranger to finding the net either.
Adams will be the toughest of the four to replace. The Bournemouth midfielder is comfortably Pochettino's best option in the defensive midfield role, serving as the anchor of the team's center. Yet he is also the one who most needs to be kept on the bench Thursday.
Beyond the yellow card concern, Adams has absorbed some heavy physical punishment across the first two matches, even missing a training session last week due to "load management." Pochettino took a gamble by including so few genuine midfielders in his World Cup squad. Taking a risk is one thing; being reckless is another. Now is not the moment to run his primary No. 6 into the ground.
Adams will need to be fully fit for the round of 32, or the USMNT's chances of a deep run could be seriously compromised. He has big boots to fill, but Sebastian Berhalter will likely be handed the responsibility. Despite limited international experience, Pochettino has shown faith in him in midfield, and Berhalter does operate as a deeper-lying midfielder for his club Vancouver Whitecaps.
Richards is in equal need of rest as he is of yellow card protection. After suffering a serious ankle injury late last month with Crystal Palace, the center back was thrown straight back into action, starting and completing 90 minutes in both World Cup fixtures. Mark McKenzie can step in at right center back, as he did during the pre-tournament friendlies while Richards was still on the mend.
Robinson's dynamism down the left flank will be difficult to replicate, but Max Arfsten is up to the task. The fullback has yet to feature at this World Cup but possesses the qualities to make an impression with his tactical flexibility and smooth transitions.
Pick Your USMNT Starting XI!
Pochettino is naturally inventive and may view Thursday as a rare chance to test even more players ahead of the knockout rounds, when tournament fatigue begins to take its toll. Joe Scally, who got a few minutes against Australia, could slot in at right back, giving the breakout youngster Alex Freeman, 21, a well-earned rest. Matt Turner could also get the call between the posts — he does, after all, bring considerable World Cup experience to the table.
The Argentine coach would be unwise to play Christian Pulisic, who missed the Australia match with calf discomfort after a standout display against Paraguay. Even though the face of U.S. Soccer has returned to training, there is no justification for Pochettino to rush him back for this fixture. An additional week of recovery could prove invaluable for his readiness in the knockout stage. Giovanni Reyna, another of Pochettino's trusted options off the bench, has experience in that wide attacking role and could be handed a start against Türkiye.
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No matter how experimental Pochettino chooses to be, he may be reluctant to leave Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman out of the starting eleven. The midfield pair are central to the team's attacking build-up and could be crucial to securing all three points. A flawless group stage record would go a long way toward building confidence and momentum heading into the knockouts — a factor Pochettino will need to carefully balance against giving his key players a much-needed breather from the spotlight.