USMNT World Cup Player Ratings: Berhalter and Pulisic Shine

The United States men's national team's (USMNT) World Cup group stage concluded on June 26, 2026, with a 3-2 loss to Turkiye. The match, which had no bearing on final rankings, left the USMNT finishing Group D with six points and set them up for a round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday.

Though the match against an already eliminated Turkiye posed some challenges, it featured a heavily rotated squad under coach Mauricio Pochettino. The players’ performances varied, leading to different ratings:

Matt Turner, GK, #1 (90 minutes, Rating 4)

Turner conceded three goals and appeared less than confident. He faced defensive shortcomings, especially on the third goal.

Auston Trusty, D, #6 (90 minutes, Rating 7)

Trusty scored his first USMNT goal early in the game, a thrilling moment. However, he struggled defensively and rolled his ankle near the end.

Miles Robinson, D, #12 (90 minutes, Rating 4.5)

Robinson was slow to react defensively. While he put in effort, he is not pushing for a starting position currently.

Mark McKenzie, D, #22 (90 minutes, Rating 5)

McKenzie dealt well with the physicality of Turkiye but lacked the technical skills to match their top attacking players.

Weston McKennie, M, #8 (86 minutes, Rating 6)

McKennie captained the team, bringing energy and having positive moments, though he didn't excel in a role that suited him best.

Giovanni Reyna, M, #7 (76 minutes, Rating 5)

Reyna had a quiet game with only a couple of decent passes. He failed to capitalize on this opportunity for more minutes.

Sebastian Berhalter, M, #14 (90 minutes, Rating 7.5)

Berhalter stood out with a goal and an assist. His accuracy on the corner and the precision of his goal enhanced his reputation.

Brenden Aaronson, M, #11 (77 minutes, Rating 5)

Aaronson was mostly quiet, failing to get involved significantly in the first half.

Ricardo Pepi, F, #9 (90 minutes, Rating 5)

Pepi was largely forgettable during the match, only becoming noticeable in the second half but lacked timely runs.

Despite the loss, the USMNT's experience against Turkiye will serve as a lesson as they gear up for their upcoming knockout stage challenge.