The USMNT World Cup story has gone about as well as Team USA could have hoped, and now the Americans get a chance to finish the group stage in style. The United States closes out Group D against Türkiye, already through to the knockout rounds and sitting on top of the table. The biggest question heading into the match is not whether the U.S. advances, because that is locked up. It is whether Christian Pulisic is back on the field.
Pulisic, the face of this team and its most important attacker, has been working his way back from a calf injury. After missing the win over Australia, the Americans’ talisman has returned to full training and said he is ready to go. For a USMNT side suddenly playing with real confidence on home soil, getting their captain healthy at the right time would be the perfect way to roll into the knockouts.
Let’s recap how Team USA got here, because the path has been impressive. The Americans opened the tournament with a statement, hammering Paraguay 4-1 in front of a raucous home crowd. That result set the tone and announced that this U.S. side intends to make a deep run on its own turf.
Then came the test against Australia, and the USMNT passed it without their best player. The U.S. won 2-0 to clinch a spot in the knockout rounds. An own goal from Australian defender Cameron Burgess in the 11th minute opened the scoring, and Alex Freeman doubled the lead in the 43rd minute off a deflected Sergiño Dest shot. Two matches, two wins, six points, and a stranglehold on first place in Group D.
The most encouraging part for head coach Mauricio Pochettino is that the win over Australia came with Pulisic in street clothes. A team that can grind out a clean sheet and a comfortable result without its star is a team built on more than one player. That depth is exactly what you need to survive a World Cup.
Now to the storyline everyone is watching. Pulisic first picked up the left calf issue in training before the Paraguay opener, played through it in that match, then sat out against Australia as a precaution. This week he resumed full training with his teammates, and the signs have been positive.
Pulisic himself said he is ready to feature against Türkiye, though he tempered expectations by admitting he is “probably not ready” to play a full 90 minutes. That is the smart, honest read on where he is. Pochettino praised the “massive effort” his captain has made to get healthy, and the staff has signaled he will be available for the finale.
This is where managing the moment matters. With the knockout berth already secured, there is no reason to rush Pulisic into heavy minutes against Türkiye. The bigger prize is having him fresh and sharp for the win-or-go-home matches ahead. A controlled return, maybe a half or a cameo to shake off the rust, would be the ideal outcome. If you want a deeper look at how much the U.S. attack changes when he is unavailable, revisit our breakdown of what Pulisic’s absence means for the USMNT.
It would be easy to assume a team that has already advanced will coast, but there are real reasons for the USMNT to take this one seriously. Finishing first in the group typically sets up a more favorable knockout draw, and momentum is its own currency at a World Cup. Nobody wants to limp into the round of 16 after a flat performance.
There is also the matter of rhythm. Pochettino has rotation decisions to make, fringe players to evaluate, and combinations to test before the stakes get higher. A finale against quality opposition like Türkiye is the last live audition before the tournament turns into a knockout gauntlet. Players on the bubble of the rotation have one more chance to make their case.
For the supporting cast around Pulisic, this is an opportunity to keep building. Folarin Balogun up top, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams in midfield, and the rest of the group have a chance to sharpen their connections. The more options Pochettino has clicking, the more dangerous this U.S. team becomes.
Hosting a World Cup brings enormous pressure, and so far the USMNT has handled it. Two wins, a knockout spot, and a chance to go a perfect three-for-three in the group is a dream start for a program that has spent years answering questions about whether it could deliver on the biggest stage.
Getting Pulisic back rounds out the picture. He is the player defenders game-plan around, the one who turns a tight match into a moment of magic. A healthy Pulisic paired with a confident, deep supporting cast is the version of this team that can actually make noise in the knockout rounds. According to ESPN, Pulisic is ready and hoping to play against Türkiye, which is exactly the news American fans wanted to hear.
The USMNT World Cup run is off to a flying start, and the finale against Türkiye is a chance to finish the group stage flawless. The result is gravy at this point, since the knockout spot is secure, but a strong showing and a controlled Pulisic return would send the U.S. into the next round with everything trending in the right direction.
Team USA has done the hard part. Now it gets to fine-tune, get its captain back to full speed, and prepare for the matches that will define the tournament. For American soccer fans, the dream of a deep home World Cup run is very much alive, and it is about to get even more interesting.
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