INGLEWOOD, Calif. – United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino announced that four of his players who are currently on yellow cards will be sitting out Thursday’s match against Türkiye. This decision is aimed at preventing any suspensions for the round-of-32 match scheduled for July 1.
The U.S. has already secured the top position in Group D, and since Türkiye has been eliminated from the tournament, this match will not impact the group standings. Therefore, the players on yellow cards—midfielder Tyler Adams, forward Folarin Balogun, defender Chris Richards, and outside back Antonee Robinson—will likely start on the bench and may not play at all.
All yellow cards accumulated during the group stage that do not result in a suspension will be cleared once the group phase concludes.
“It’s a straightforward decision for those with yellow cards,” Pochettino said during Wednesday’s pre-match press conference. “It’s unnecessary to risk getting another yellow card and missing the next stage.”
He expressed concern about a player on a yellow card playing with hesitation for fear of suspension. “If a player is in a situation where they might receive an unfair yellow card, it compromises their performance,” Pochettino noted. “I want to ensure that the team that takes the field tomorrow plays with full determination, as if it’s a World Cup final.”
Pochettino also mentioned the possibility of resting players like Malik Tillman, who has had a taxing club season. In contrast, players such as Sergiño Dest and Alex Freeman, who had less playing time at their clubs, might be utilized differently.
“Our positive results and performances give us the opportunity to manage our roster more effectively and prepare ourselves better for the next stage,” Pochettino stated.
Concerning Christian Pulisic, who missed the match against Australia due to a calf injury, Pochettino confirmed that he would be available, although his role is still under consideration. “We’ll decide whether he can start or come off the bench for the second half,” he explained.
On a less positive note, midfielder Cristian Roldan, who was expected to potentially fill in for Adams, has not trained with the full squad since last weekend due to a quadriceps injury. “We need to evaluate tomorrow whether he can participate,” Pochettino remarked. “He has a minor quad issue, but it’s improving. If he can’t play tomorrow, we hope he’ll be fine for next week.”
Regarding Türkiye, Pochettino anticipates that they will play intensely as they seek to conclude a disappointing World Cup campaign on a high note. Having lost both of their games, Türkiye has no chance of advancing. “It’s still a World Cup match,” he said. “Defending your country and culture is always about pride. I’m confident that the Turkish team will be competitive. They have talented players, and we expect a challenging match.”
The United States is likely to face Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32, following their victory over Qatar earlier Wednesday, which secured their first spot in the knockout rounds of the World Cup.