Pulisic, Richards, McKenzie Approaching Match Against Türkiye with Familiar Intensity | OneFootball

IRVINE, Calif. — In just over 24 hours, the U.S. Men’s National Team will be focused on the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026. This year’s squad joined the 1930 U.S. team as the only American sides to win their opening two matches at the World Cup, defeating both Paraguay and Australia by multiple goals to kick off this year’s tournament.

Although the Stars and Stripes’ position as Group D winners is already confirmed, the team is approaching Thursday’s group stage finale against an eliminated Türkiye side with the same—if not greater—intensity as the first two matches.

“Training has been intense,” defender Mark McKenzie shared Wednesday morning. “I think that's the simplest way to put it. Everybody understands that just because we won a couple games doesn't mean that it'sgoing to be a cakewalk by any means.

“We put together two strong performances, but that's been months and months of work that we put in, and now we're at the pinnacle of the international game at this World Cup, and we don't want it to be where we're stepping back or slowing down in any way, shape or form.”

For the majority of the squad, it’s about momentum, something that has been boosted by the cohesion of the group and backed by the familiarity and consistency that comes with a World Cup on home soil.

“I think it has a lot to do with the success that we have,” defender Chris Richards said of the impact of the group’s unity. “I think we've created a really good culture of guys, and even some guys who don't have many caps have come into this group and merged really well.

“For us, we feel like brothers off the field and on the field, and I think you can see it with our celebrations, with the way we're backing each other in every tackle. If there's a little bust-up going, you see everybody running over there. I think it makes it a lot easier on the field when you really enjoy the guys off the field.”

One of the squad’s undisputed leaders, forward Christian Pulisic said he feels good and hopes to return to action Thursday after missing the Australia match with injury. He anticipates full intensity from whoever takes the field against Türkiye and reflected on the advantage of entering the knockout stage on a three-match winning streak.

“When you win your last game, you go into the next one with a little bit extra, a good feeling,” Pulisic said. “That winning mentality feeling sticks with you. You want it for sure going into the knockout rounds.

“We'll definitely feel better with a win. That's why we're going to push for it. It's an amazing opportunity. Like you said, we don't necessarily need a win, but it's a World Cup game, and we all want to give our best and do well.”

Who actually ends up taking the pitch at Los Angeles Stadium tomorrow evening is yet to be determined. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino could opt to rotate his squad ahead of the knockout stage, or he could approach the match much as he did the opening two group games. Either way, the team is full of belief and eager to contribute.

“It's not surprising to me,” Pulisic said of the team’s performance against Australia. “I see what this team can do. We have depth, we have really strong players in a lot of positions. I don't need to do everything. It'ssuch a strong team. These guys, everyone has each other's backs. That's what's so fun about it.

“I just always believe that anything's possible, and I don't feel like we necessarily need some miracle to go far in the World Cup. I think we have a really good team. I think we can do it. Things have to go your way, just like for everyone, and I always feel like believing is better than not.”

Hungry to make more history, this USMNT team is relentless in its pursuit of yet another win. It is the World Cup, after all.

“It's still a World Cup,” Richards said. “People are talking about us making history, whatever the case is. But we want to win all three games in our group and go into the next round with nine points. For us, it's a World Cup. If you're not excited for this, I don't know when you will be excited.”