Heartbreak at the final whistle
Turkey struck in stoppage time through Kerem Aktürkoğlu, silencing the pro-American crowd at Los Angeles Stadium. The US had fought back from 1-0 down to take a 2-1 lead through Pulisic and Brenden Aaronson, but Turkey equalized in the 78th minute before the late winner. Coach Mauricio Pochettino started a rotated lineup with the knockout spot already secured.
Pulisic returns to top form
The AC Milan winger delivered his best performance of the 2026 tournament, scoring a curling effort from outside the box and providing a perfectly weighted assist. "Christian looked like his old self tonight," Pochettino said. "That's what we need going into the knockout stage." Pulisic had been an injury doubt heading into the World Cup.
Cape Verde and Ecuador also advance
Cape Verde continued its fairytale run, advancing from Group C alongside Saudi Arabia in one of the tournament's biggest surprises. Ecuador stunned fans by advancing from Group D over Serbia. The US will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32, with a potential matchup against Brazil looming in the round of 16.