Mauricio Pochettino has plethora of USMNT lineup options for meaningless World Cup game
Mauricio Pochettino has endless USMNT lineup options for Turkey game
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World Cup 2026
Soccer
Mauricio Pochettino has plethora of USMNT lineup options for meaningless World Cup game
By Ethan Sears Published June 22, 2026, 12:47 a.m. ETSee more of our coverage in your search results.
Add The New York Post on GoogleIRVINE, Calif. — The U.S. men’s national team approaches its final game of the group stage with a luxury it has never had before at a World Cup. The game doesn’t matter.
Of course, everyone wants to keep the momentum going after two rousing wins that clinched the group with a game to spare. And beating Turkey would be a feather in the cap for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, especially when the USMNT hasn’t beaten a European opponent since a 2021 friendly against Bosnia.
But the Turks, eliminated in disastrous fashion after failing to score a goal on more than 60 shots across two games, have nothing to play for but pride. Ditto for the Americans, who are already locked in to play a round of 32 match — very possibly against Bosnia, ironically — in Santa Clara on July 1.
Which means that you can expect heavy rotation from Pochettino, especially with four players on a yellow card and Christian Pulisic’s left calf injury rendering his status unclear.
Single yellow cards are wiped clean after the group stage, but picking up a second would leave a player suspended for the round of 32. So there’s little reason for the U.S. to risk any of Tyler Adams, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson or Folarin Balogun — all of whom the Americans need on the field in knockout games — in the name of getting a result in what will be a glorified friendly.
“You’re asking the wrong guy, man,” Adams said when asked about the situation. “I want to play every game.”
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Adams, who picked up his yellow against Paraguay, did get through the 2-0 win over Australia without a second. But given his role defending counterattacks and getting stuck in defensively, he’s arguably the most at-risk player to pick up a card on any given day.
“At moments when I want to do something stupid, I try to tame myself a little bit,” Adams said Friday of his mindset. “When things [got] physical today, I was kinda the peacemaker today, to be honest with you. I didn’t get in any scraps or do anything too dumb. You think about it, but at the same time, I’m not taking away my aggressiveness. That’s also what makes me a good player.”
The situation with Pulisic, whose injury has taken a backseat in the discourse since Friday, is the most interesting.
If he is available to play — and though the noise about that has been optimistic, it was also optimistic he’d play against Australia, before it wasn’t — there’s a fair argument he should get some minutes under his belt. Nineteen days between the Paraguay game and the round of 32 would be a long enough layoff that it’s something for Pochettino to consider.
If Pulisic is at any risk of aggravating the injury, or would need to play through it, then of course there’s little reason to indulge that risk.
Though rotating the entire starting 11 might be a step too far — Pochettino would want to keep some continuity after all — this could be a moment for players like Cristian Roldan, Tim Weah, Alex Zendejas or Mark McKenzie to get into a game. Gio Reyna and Sebastian Berhalter, who have come on as subs in the first two games, could be candidates for an extended look as well.
“It’s too early to talk about our decision against Turkey,” Pochettino said after the game, a few hours before the U.S. officially clinched its group. “I cannot anticipate nothing [about] what we are going to do. … But we are 28 players training, 26 on the [roster], and all the players have the capacity to play and they are qualified to play.”
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
