USMNT player ratings: Turner 3/10 in first World Cup loss

The U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) faced a disappointing 3-2 loss against Türkiye at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, marking their first defeat in the group stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Although the team had started strong, winning their first two matches and securing the top position in Group D, the late goal from Kaan Ayhan dashed their hopes of an unblemished record.

The match began positively for the U.S., with Auston Trusty and Sebastian Berhalter finding the net early on. However, the defensive lapses proved costly, allowing Türkiye to capitalize and score crucial goals that led to their comeback victory.

Manager Rating (Out of 10)

Mauricio Pochettino, 6 — Pochettino utilized this match to assess the squad’s depth. While he confirmed the reliability of some players, others left him questioning their readiness. The defeat highlighted areas for improvement before the knockout stages.

USMNT Player Ratings (1-10; 10 = best, 5 = average)

GK Matt Turner, 3 — Turner struggled with positioning and timing, particularly on Arda Güler’s goal. While he effectively dealt with crosses, his late-game performance lacked decisiveness.

RB Joe Scally, 4 — Scally’s defensive contributions were overshadowed by his quieter game compared to previous matches, leaving him vulnerable against Türkiye’s attacks.

CB Miles Robinson, 5 — Robinson demonstrated defensive awareness at times but failed to prevent pivotal scoring opportunities.

CB Mark McKenzie, 3 — McKenzie had a challenging evening, appearing unsettled throughout the match and contributing to multiple goals conceded by the U.S.

LB Auston Trusty, 5 — Trusty opened the scoring but had inconsistent moments defensively, struggling against Türkiye’s counterattacks.

CM Weston McKennie, 5 — McKennie provided some attacking presence but lacked consistency, failing to control the game’s tempo.

CM Sebastian Berhalter, 7 — Berhalter was a standout performer, successfully delivering key set pieces and scoring a critical equalizer.

CM Giovanni Reyna, 4 — Reyna had brief flashes of brilliance but couldn’t maintain offensive momentum.

RW Brenden Aaronson, 4 — Aaronson showed potential early on but failed to influence the game significantly.

LW Timothy Weah, 5 — Weah was active but struggled with offside calls, limiting his impact before being substituted.

ST Ricardo Pepi, 5 — Pepi was more engaged in the attacking play compared to previous outings but lacked finishing touches.

Substitutes (Players introduced after 70 minutes = no rating)

LW Christian Pulisic (Weah, 76′), 7 — Pulisic’s return from injury injected energy into the U.S. attack, creating opportunities and applying consistent pressure.

CM Sergiño Dest (Reyna, 77′), NR — Dest’s role was subdued as Pulisic took the forefront.

RW Alejandro Zendejas (Aaronson, 77′), NR — Zendejas had limited influence but provided depth late in the game.

RB Alex Freeman (Scally, 77′), NR — Freeman offered defensive stability during a crucial time.

CM Malik Tillman (McKennie, 86′), NR — Tillman provided fresh legs to close out the match.