Türkiye-USA in the finale: Montella's likely XI

In the final Group D match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Türkiye face hosts the USA at SoFi Stadium. With Türkiye, who bowed out early after losing their first two games without scoring, having only pride on the line, it is rotation and rest time for a USA that secured top spot by winning both their matches.

For the USA, head coach Mauricio Pochettino is expected to make wholesale changes. The USA, who beat Paraguay and Australia by clear scorelines and secured the last 32 as group winners, will field their peripheral players in this game. With the injured Christian Pulisic expected to be rested, names one booking away from suspension such as Folarin Balogun, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson and Tyler Adams are also expected to sit out. Names like Gio Reyna, Sebastian Berhalter and Haji Wright are expected to feature.

For Türkiye, head coach Vincenzo Montella is predicted to make few changes despite the successive defeats. The Italian coach is expected to keep leaning on his star forward line in the hope they can finally produce. Arda Güler, Kenan Yıldız and Kerem Aktürkoğlu featuring up front is likely, with Barış Alper Yılmaz possibly replacing Yunus Akgün on the right wing. Captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu will partner İsmail Yüksek in midfield.

Although there is nothing on the line in points or qualification for either team, the match has its own dynamics. The USA's reserve players will want to seize the chance to get into Pochettino's future plans. Türkiye, for their part, aim to at least score a goal and take a point before leaving North America. Türkiye, low on morale after two disappointing displays, despite stars like Arda Güler, Kenan Yıldız and Hakan Çalhanoğlu, failed to score across two games despite taking 62 shots and producing 3.53 expected goals, which forms the root of their attacking problem.

Likely XIs
Türkiye (4-2-3-1): Çakır; Müldür, Demiral, Bardakcı, Kadıoğlu; Yüksek, Çalhanoğlu; Yılmaz, Güler, Yıldız; Aktürkoğlu
USA (3-4-2-1): Freese; Freeman, McKenzie, Trusty; Dest, McKennie, Berhalter, Arfsten; Zendejas, Reyna; Wright

Image: Sports Illustrated