USA vs. Türkiye takeaways: The USMNT can shrug off the loss, but not the mistakes
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Steven GoffContributing writerFri, June 26, 2026 at 7:31 AM UTC·4 min readINGLEWOOD, Calif. — It would be easy to dismiss the 3-2 U.S. loss to Türkiye on Thursday as a meaningless setback at the end of an otherwise terrific two weeks — a misstep before the vital stage of the World Cup begins.
Most of Mauricio Pochettino's top players watched from the bench or played less than a half. The result did not shake the U.S. from its perch atop Group D or, judging from postgame comments, shake its confidence.
AdvertisementAdvertisementBuoyed by two resounding victories, this is a team unified in its pursuit of something special on home soil. The do-or-die segment of this summer's soccer spectacle awaits, with the Americans to face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 on Wednesday in Santa Clara, California.
Thursday's loss shouldn't affect the U.S., but moments that contributed to the loss can't be ignored. There were positive developments, too.
Here are a few takeaways:
Lapses are magnified at the World Cup and surely will be punished
The U.S. was feeling pretty good about itself after scoring in the first 10 minutes for the third consecutive match, but lost its defensive concentration and fell behind before halftime.
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Türkiye's movement and collaboration were troublesome, and the Americans didn't handle the pressure well. They regrouped in the second half, tied the match on Sebastian Berhalter's scorching shot and seemed on their way to a relatively satisfying draw.
But in the dying moments, they failed to see out the match.
Christian Pulisic was nutmegged on the dribble by the magnificent Arda Güler and, a few passes later, goalkeeper Matt Turner was nutmegged on Can Uzun's shot. Kaan Ayhan was on the back end to poke in the match-winner on what turned out to be the last touch of the night.
AdvertisementAdvertisement"In a different game with maybe different consequences, maybe we approached the last five to seven minutes a little bit differently," Turner said. "We were caught up in the moment. I think we all wanted to really go for it and try to score and try to give the fans one last big thing to cheer for."
Winger Tim Weah referenced the 2022 tournament in Qatar, where the Americans showed their naivete in a Round-of-16 loss to the Netherlands. That roster had only one player with World Cup experience. This one has 13.
"Even when we look back at '22, we made a couple mistakes against the Netherlands, and that cost us being in the tournament longer," Weah said. "Those little mistakes are something you have to fix."
Overall, the U.S. allowed too many opportunities.
"The quality of chances that we surrendered were too high," Turner said.
Christian Pulisic didn't miss a beat
There were questions whether the star forward was even going to play Thursday. He had recovered from a calf injury, but with nothing at stake, Pochettino needed to decide how important it was to get him minutes before the next stage.
Pulisic entered earlier than expected (in the 58th minute) and made an immediate impact with his dashing runs into the box and threats on goal.
He looked sharp — a clear indication the injury is behind him and he'll return to the starting lineup next week.
AdvertisementAdvertisement"You saw his quality and you saw when he came in, the impact he had," Berhalter said. "He's our guy."
With Pulisic back, Folarin Balogun returning to the lineup and Weston McKennie returning to an advanced role next week, the first-choice attack is poised to pick up where it left off last week.
This was not the top U.S. team
We can harp on the mistakes and the goals conceded and the gutting way it ended, but a much stronger team will take the field at Levi's Stadium on Wednesday.
And players who otherwise were not going to start in the group stage received valuable playing time, which should better prepare them for possible assignments in the knockout round.
AdvertisementAdvertisementIf the Americans are able to turn the page quickly, they'll be fine.
"I believe in this team," Weah said. "I think we've done such a great job to get to this point. When you look at the previous games against Australia and Paraguay, we just have to keep that same mentality."
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.'
