Why Christian Pulisic Isn’t Starting as USMNT Faces Türkiye in World Cup Group Finale

The Final Group D Match: A Dead Rubber with Hidden Significance

Thursday’s match between the U.S. men’s national team and Türkiye marks the final fixture in Group D of the World Cup. In soccer terms, this is often referred to as a “dead rubber,” meaning it holds no real competitive significance for either side. However, despite its lack of impact on group standings, the game still carries some importance—especially for the teams involved.

The U.S. men’s national team (USMNT) has already secured first place in the group after dominant performances against Paraguay and Australia. This means they are well-positioned for a deep run in the tournament, potentially even making a strong push for the title. With such a favorable position, the team is likely entering the match with a calm and confident mindset, ready to showcase their skills without the pressure of needing to win.

On the other hand, Türkiye faces a different emotional landscape. Once seen as a strong contender to win the group, the Crescent-Stars now find themselves in a state of desperation. They will be looking for at least one point from this match—a small consolation before heading home. For them, this game represents an opportunity to end their World Cup campaign on a slightly positive note.

Lineup Decisions: USMNT Goes With Caution

While the U.S. team is expected to field a strong lineup, they will not be using all of their top stars. This decision is made to avoid yellow card suspensions and to manage player fatigue ahead of the next stages of the tournament. Christian Pulisic, the team’s star forward, is a prime example of this strategy. He was left out of the starting XI for the previous match against Australia, and he is also not expected to start on Thursday.

Pulisic suffered a calf injury during the World Cup opener, forcing him to leave the field early in the first half. Despite a strong 45-minute performance that included an assist and key contributions to the team’s attack, he was sidelined. Since then, he has been training individually and is still listed on the roster for the match against Türkiye. However, his absence from the starting lineup suggests that the coaching staff is prioritizing his long-term fitness over a potential return in this game.

Confirmed Lineups for the Match

Here are the confirmed starting lineups for both teams:

USMNT Starting XI:
– Turner
– Trusty
– McKenzie
– M. Robinson
– Scally
– Berhalter
– McKennie
– Reyna
– Aaronson
– Weah
– Pepi

Substitutes:
– Freese (GK)
– Brady (GK)
– Richards
– A. Robinson
– Arfsten
– Ream
– Dest
– Adams
– Tillman
– Balogun
– Pulisic
– Wright
– Zendejas

Injured:
– Cristian Roldan

Türkiye Starting XI:
– Uğurcan Çakır
– Zeki Çelik
– Salih Özcan
– Orkun Kökçü
– Arda Güler
– Kenan Yıldız
– Eren Elmalı
– Abdülkerim Bardakcı
– Ozan Kabak
– Barış Alper Yılmaz
– Oğuz Aydın

Christian Pulisic on the Bench

What to Expect from the Match

With the U.S. team playing with a mix of rested players and some younger or less prominent names, the match could serve as a valuable test for the depth of the squad. Meanwhile, Türkiye will bring their strongest lineup, hoping to secure a draw or even a win to end their campaign on a high note.

Despite being a dead rubber, the game is still an opportunity for both teams to fine-tune their strategies and prepare for future challenges. For the U.S., it’s about maintaining momentum and ensuring that key players remain fresh. For Türkiye, it’s about pride and ending their World Cup journey with a stronger showing than they might have expected.