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Christian Pulisic made a timely comeback, Sebastian Berhalter delivered an impressive display, and Auston Trusty had a moment to remember, but a late winner from Turkiye once again underlined the United States Men’s National Team’s defensive fragility.

INGLEWOOD, California — At the final whistle, after a match that ended painfully, the familiar post-match huddle formed once again. The song ‘Country Roads’ echoed softly through the stadium, less boisterous than before, as the U.S. Men’s National Team linked arms in a circle at midfield. The scoreboard above showed the harsh truth: Turkiye 3, USA 2.

This scene was not one of celebration. There were no cheers or high-fives, no smiles for the cameras. Yet, the huddle remained — and perhaps, in this moment, it mattered even more. It was about solidarity in defeat.

“For us, it’s not about whether you win or lose,” said defender Mark McKenzie after the match. “It’s about staying united and showing that togetherness. It’s not for optics or for anyone else’s narrative. It’s a moment for us to regroup, to understand that there’ll be highs and lows, but the 26 players and our staff will be the ones to help us achieve our goals in this tournament.”

That sentiment summed up Thursday night — a match that was more about preparation for what comes next. Despite the defeat, the objective was largely achieved. Several players made their World Cup debuts, gaining confidence in the process. The overall performance was solid until that late lapse that led to defeat. Christian Pulisic’s return from injury was encouraging, and the positive momentum from the earlier group matches carried into Los Angeles, where fans continued their vocal support.

Yes, the loss stings, but not irreparably. It will matter little if the U.S. can advance past Bosnia & Herzegovina in the Round of 32 next week.

“What we need to remember is that we won the group,” head coach Mauricio Pochettino said. “We finished first and managed the pressure and expectations very well.”

He added, “I am very pleased with the players and the fans. We qualified as No. 1 for the next round. The key now is to go into the next match in the best possible condition.”

All focus now shifts to the next game, the one that truly matters. Thursday’s task was to put the team in a better position for that challenge, and in that sense, mission accomplished. The loss will hurt, particularly given its manner, but the message from that huddle was clear — unity as the knockout stage begins.

GOAL breaks down the Winners & Losers from Los Angeles...

WINNER: Sebastian Berhalter

If there was one major takeaway from the match, it’s that the USMNT may have discovered another impactful midfielder. While the established trio of Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, and Malik Tillman remains first choice, Berhalter showed he can compete at that level too.

He provided an assist, scored a goal, and played over 70 minutes despite being booked early. “The ball just bounced out, and I knew if I stayed calm and swung through, I had a chance,” Berhalter explained. “I practise those often, so seeing it go in was awesome. My first thought was to get the ball back and go again.”

On a night when there was no clear Plan B in midfield, Berhalter proved to be a strong Plan A. With three World Cup appearances already, each better than the last, his role within the team could become increasingly important.

“We gave everything we had,” he said. “We’ll be ready for the knockouts.”

LOSER: Tim Weah

Earlier in his tenure, Pochettino justified using Tim Weah on the left flank, citing analytical data about his movement patterns. However, in this game, that decision backfired. Weah struggled on the left and was substituted early.

The Marseille winger couldn’t find his rhythm — caught offside too often, muscled off the ball by defenders, and dispossessed five times without winning a single duel. It was a frustrating outing that ended prematurely for a player who has previously delivered game-changing moments.

WINNER: Arda Guler

For Turkiye’s young star Arda Guler, this tournament did not unfold as he would have hoped. Expected to be one of the breakout players of the summer, he’ll instead head home early. Still, scoring a goal on the way out offered him a small consolation.

Against the U.S., Guler finally looked like himself — the dynamic player admired at Real Madrid and by Turkish fans. He scored, constantly threatened the American defence, and dictated play throughout. He was easily the most gifted player on the pitch.

It was too late to alter Turkiye’s fate, but the performance was a reminder of his immense potential — better late than never.

WINNER: Christian Pulisic

The roar was deafening when Christian Pulisic stepped onto the field. The Los Angeles crowd rose to their feet to welcome him back, and he rewarded them with a sharp performance.

Pulisic looked dangerous and, more importantly, fully recovered from injury. That’s the biggest victory for the USMNT — their talisman is fit for the knockout rounds.

“It was amazing,” Pulisic told FOX. “I felt healthy and good. It was great to be back with the team and get some minutes. I felt good with the ball. It was a tough ending for us, but we won the group, and now we look forward to next week.”

While the U.S. may rue small moments in the defeat, they’ll be thankful to have their star back. Berhalter added, “You saw the impact he had when he came in. He’s our guy — a great person and a leader in his own right. He was fantastic.”

LOSER: The defence

Back in November, when asked about his team’s hierarchy, Pochettino dismissed the idea of “regulars,” insisting that every player was part of one collective pool. But Thursday’s match suggested otherwise — there are indeed levels.

The defenders who started against Paraguay and Australia appear to be the ones to trust moving forward. Ricardo Pepi and Weston McKennie were the only holdovers from the previous game, though McKennie is the likeliest to retain a starting spot in a full-strength XI. The rest of that first-choice lineup, rested due to yellow card concerns, now seems set.

Defensively, Mark McKenzie and Miles Robinson could have done better on the goals conceded. Goalkeeper Matt Turner, though largely blameless, couldn’t produce the crucial saves to rescue his side. As a result, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Alex Freeman, and Matt Freese — who stepped in for this match — did little to convince Pochettino to alter his preferred back line.

WINNER: Auston Trusty

It was a match of mixed emotions for Auston Trusty. The highlight — his first-ever World Cup goal — was truly special. Scoring in the third minute to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead, Trusty sprinted across the field to celebrate with teammates in pure joy.

“I saw the celebration replay and realised I did the same thing when I scored my first goal for Philadelphia Union,” he said. “It was from a corner too, and I ran to the bench. It felt full circle.”

Trusty performed solidly in the unfamiliar left-back role until late in the game when he picked up an ankle injury. After the match, he was seen with his ankle heavily taped. “I rolled my ankle pretty badly and had a hamstring cramp at the same time,” he said. “It wasn’t great, but I had to stay on and finish. We’re staying positive.”

The team will be hoping the injury isn’t serious, as Trusty’s performance showed the kind of resilience and impact that could prove vital in knockout football.