Ghorbal has refereed just 21 matches in his career, but he was part of the 2022 World Cup crew. In the current 2026 edition, he handled the Scotland-Haiti match, where he handed out four yellow cards in a game disrupted by 44 fouls.

This game offers a rematch of a June 2025 international friendly where Turkiye edged the United States 2-1, a game that saw early goals from Arda Guler and Kerem Akturkoglu before a late physical battle unfolded. Ghorbal will be wearing turqouise today as the USA and Turkiye uniforms are also set.

Mustapha Ghorbal stats ahead of the game

His stats show an official who isn’t afraid to blow the whistle to protect players, but he typically avoids premature red cards, preferring to establish boundaries early using verbal warnings and targeted cautions.

Overall, Ghorbal averages 3.05 yellow cards and 0.1 red cards per match. He is the type of referee who refuses to let violence escalate on the pitch, and he is expected to run a tight ship with both Turkish and American players.

Tactical impact: fighting for control

The USMNT will need to maintain defensive discipline, particularly given their tendency to drop into a tighter, heavy-fouling shape when under pressure. During their previous friendly against Turkyie, late-match frustration resulted in quick yellow cards as they struggled to slow down Turkey’s dynamic counter-attack.

The match will be played in Los Angeles, which has a World Cup capacity of approximately 70,000 spectators, meaning another near-capacity crowd is expected for the host nation’s final group-stage appearance.

Even without direct qualification stakes, the fixture still draws attention for different reasons. For the United States, they have an opportunity to maintain their high level of performance in front of home supporters, while Turkiye look to salvage pride and finally showcase the attacking talent that has yet to fully emerge in the tournament.

How have Turkiye performed so far?

Türkiye arrived at the World Cup with high expectations but have struggled to deliver in Group D. The team opened with a 2-0 defeat to Australia, followed by a narrow 1-0 loss against Paraguay, results that confirmed their early elimination from the competition.

How are the United States approaching the match?

The United States now sit 14th in the FIFA World Rankings after securing six points from two matches, including a 4-1 victory over Paraguay and a 2-0 win against Australia. Mauricio Pochettino’s side has already confirmed top position in Group D and qualification to the Round of 32.

With progression secured, the United States will rotate their starting lineup. Christian Pulisic has been confirmed to start on the bench due to a tactical decision, Even with changes, the United States aim to maintain their strong momentum heading into the knockout stage.

In fact, as the USA take on Turkiye, ranked No. 32 in the FIFA World Rankings, the final score will have absolutely no bearing on the final standings. Regardless of whether Mauricio Pochettino’s side win, tie, or lose, the Stars and Stripes will finish atop the group table and advance at the 2026 World Cup. In fact, because of the Group F final standings, the USA already found out it will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32.

While the USMNT’s showdown against Turkiye has virtually nothing on the line—the U.S. are guaranteed to finish first and the Turks are already eliminated—the Americans are still hoping for a win to complete a perfect group stage.

What happens if USA win vs. Turkiye?

The United States will close out the group stage of the 2026 World Cup in perfect, unbeaten fashion with a triumph over Turkiye in Los Angeles. Moreover, they would send a message to the rest of the tournament by becoming the second team to go three-for-three and amass nine points in the first round. For the time being, only Mexico have accomplished such a feat.

Of course, those points will have no effect once the knockout stage gets underway, but they will certainly build confidence for the co-host nation, who are guaranteed to play every game on home soil—a benefit neither Mexico nor Canada will enjoy.

As for the Crescent Stars, they would complete an abysmal tournament by finishing dead last in the table with no points and three straight losses. However, Turkiye are guaranteed to finish last regardless of how they fare against the USMNT.

What happens if USA and Turkiye tie?

If the game between USA and Turkiye ends in a stalemate, the Stars and Stripes will finish first in Group D with seven points out of the nine possible. The USMNT would still finish the group stage undefeated, but it may come at a cost momentum-wise.

As for Turkiye, everything would stay the same. They would finish in last place, and a draw against an American side resting its starters — Christian Pulisic isn’t starting today — would be nothing for the Crescent Stars to go out and paint the town red about.

What happens if USA lose vs. Turkiye?

In the event the USA fall to Turkiye, they will see their unbeaten run come to an end at the 2026 World Cup. Many may argue it could be a perfectly timed wake-up call for the Stars and Stripes. Pochettino’s team would still finish atop its group with six points—the U.S. hold the tiebreaking advantage over both Australia and Paraguay.

A loss could serve as a reminder for the USMNT not to rest on its laurels. It may turn out to be a rendition of Paul Revere’s midnight ride, warning the USA about the battles to come in the 2026 World Cup knockout stage.

As for Turkiye, a win would be a slight bright spot to end the tournament on, but nothing to go back to Anatolia and tell stories about. Turkiye would still finish dead last in Group D, even if they end level on points with either Australia or Paraguay, because both countries prevailed in the head-to-head matchups against the Crescent Stars.

The Stars and Stripes put the tournament on notice with a dominant 4-1 thrashing of Paraguay before blanking Australia 2-0. Those consecutive masterclasses catapulted the Americans to first place in the group with six points, putting them in prime position to cap off opening-round play with a flawless 3-0-0 record and a massive goal differential.

Meanwhile, Turkiye have been one of the tournament’s most glaring disappointments despite a roster boasting elite European talent like Real Madrid’s Arda Guler and Inter Milan’s Hakan Calhanoglu. Sitting at the bottom of the group with zero points, the Turkish side will play strictly for pride as they look to finish their disappointing World Cup run with a statement performance.

USA’s FIFA ranking

Riding the momentum of back-to-back group-stage victories, the United States has climbed three spots in the live FIFA World Rankings, jumping from 17th at the start of the tournament to 14th.

The Americans picked up a massive 38.36 ranking points courtesy of their triumphs over Paraguay and Australia, pushing their total to 1,709.59. This surge places the current squad on the precipice of one of the highest rankings in USMNT history, rapidly approaching a return to the global top 10.

Best position reached by USA in the FIFA ranking

The high-water mark for the USMNT in the official world rankings came exactly two decades ago. In the spring of 2006, a golden generation led by Landon Donovan peaked at a historic No. 4 in the world, cementing their status as the undisputed heavyweight of CONCACAF ahead of that year’s tournament in Germany.

The program’s most recent foray into elite territory came in 2021, when a trophy-laden summer pushed the Americans to 10th globally. With the knockout rounds looming, this current squad has every opportunity to keep scaling the ladder as the stakes intensify on home soil.

The first-world venue is expected to welcome a hyped-up crowd close to its full capacity of approximately 72,000 spectators for USA vs Turkiye. The Los Angeles Stadium cost a staggering $5.5 billion to build, so it’s one of the most elite, modern venues in the World Cup.

Temperature will be about 68°F (20°C) around kick-off time, dropping to 65°F (18°C) by the end of the match. Hence, the mood is set perfectly for a great night of World Cup action between the USMNT and Turkiye.

What will the weather be like for Turkiye vs USA today?

Weather is expected to be pleasant at Inglewood, but the fact is SoFi Stadium does not have a traditional, fully enclosed retractable roof. Instead, it features a massive, translucent canopy with massive built-in adjustable openings that slide like car sunroofs to control wind flow. Hence, outside weather is very controlled.

What is at stake for Turkiye and USMNT in Group D?

The USMNT has already secured its first-place spot due to its wins vs. Paraguay and Australia. Meanwhile, Turkiye, who will play with a full white uniform vs. USA has already bought the tickets back home, as two defeats against USMNT’s same opponents already made it impossible for the Ottomans to qualify to the next round of the 2026 World Cup.

Turkiye currently sit at No. 32 in the FIFA World Rankings. Turkiye entered the tournament at No. 23, falling nine places. Not many teams have dropped that many spots during the 2026 World Cup. Only Tunisia, who dropped 12 places from No. 45 to No. 57, suffered a bigger and tougher fall from grace than Turkiye did. The USA, on the other hand, has climbed spots in the FIFA ranking.

Still, considering the Turks’ aspirations and the fact they were eliminated before their group-stage finale against hosts the United States, it’s clear no other team has had it worse than Turkiye in this tournament.

Unofficial FIFA ranking updates

While Turkiye’s place at No. 32 is deflating, they can find some comfort in the fact that it’s not an official ranking. FIFA published its official rankings before the start of the 2026 World Cup—in which they ranked No. 23 in the world—and will update them when the tournament comes to an end on July 19.

However, Turkiye’s current place at No. 32 is based on their performance in the World Cup so far. A win over the USMNT could change things for Turkiye, though the fact they were eliminated in the group stage will likely outweigh any potential result.

Turkiye will likely finish closer to their current 32nd-place ranking than the 23rd-place mark they held before their disappointing losses to Australia and Paraguay.

Turkiye’s best and worst FIFA Ranking in team history

Turkiye have seen much better days. FIFA rated them as the fifth best national team in the world in 2004, and Turkiye’s best final rank in history was their 8th place finish in 2003.

As for their worst, the Crescent Stars have also been through much tougher times. Their worst rank ever was 67th in 1993. However, their direst year-end ranking was slightly better, as they finished 57th in 1998.

How to watch Turkiye vs USMNT in the USA

Fans in the United States won’t want to miss this marquee matchup, available live on FOX and Telemundo via standard television broadcasts.

Viewers can also stream the game on Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling Blue, Hulu + Live TV, and Peacock Premium. Don’t miss this exciting showdown.

Can I watch Turkiye vs USMNT for free?

Fans in the United States can catch this highly anticipated clash live on Fubo and DirecTV Stream. Eligible users may also receive a free five-day trial.

Both platforms provide nationwide live access, allowing audiences to follow every key sequence and decisive highlight in real time from start to finish.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

The United States enters its final group-stage match with little pressure after back-to-back victories over Paraguay and Australia locked up both a spot in the knockout round and the top position in the group.

With first place already secured regardless of the outcome, the focus now shifts to maintaining momentum, managing minutes, and keeping key contributors fresh ahead of the next stage.

Turkey, meanwhile, have struggled to make an impact throughout the tournament and will be looking to salvage some pride by closing out their World Cup campaign with a positive result.

Turkiye vs USMNT: Predicted Lineups

Turkiye (4-3-3): Uğurcan Çakır; Mert Müldür, Merih Demiral, Abdulkerim Bardakcı, Ferdi Kadıoğlu; Hakan Çalhanoğlu, İsmail Yüksek, Arda Güler; Yunus Akgün, Kenan Yıldız, Kerem Aktürkoğlu.

USMNT (5-3-2): Matt Freese, Alex Freeman, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Sergino Dest, Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Malik Tillman, Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi.

What time is the Turkiye vs USMNT match?

The match kicks off today, June 25, at 10:00 PM (ET). For viewers in different regions of the United States, here are the local start times:

Eastern Time: 10:00 PM
Central Time: 9:00 PM
Mountain Time: 8:00 PM
Pacific Time: 7:00 PM

For Mauricio Pochettino’s team, it makes no difference whether it wins, draws, or loses. Its place in the Round of 32 as Group D leaders has already been secured following the USMNT‘s wins over Paraguay and Australia.

As for Turkiye, their expectations were too hot to handle. After two losses, they are already eliminated from the 2026 World Cup. Hence, this game literally changes nothing for either team in this game.

USMNT and Turkiye’s uniforms for 2026 World Cup

Turkiye, who enter this game ranked at No. 32 by FIFA, will use its full white kit details in red, as its goalkeeper will wear a full green uniform. This will be the last game for Turkiye in the 2026 World Cup after a disappointing campaign.

The USMNT will use a navy blue uniform with a slight pattern. Meanwhile, the goalkeeper will use a yellow kit with a star pattern on a slight red shadow. The USMNT wants to keep momentum for the Round of 32. Referee Mustapha Ghorbal, who will officiate USA vs Turkiye, will be wearing a turquoise shirt.

The USA already knows the date and opponent for the Round of 32, as Pochettino’s men are set to take on Bosnia and Herzegovina in their first game of the knockout phase.

With the result between Turkiye and Paraguay, the USMNT has secured the top spot in Group D of the 2026 World Cup. There is no way, either mathematical or tiebreaker, that someone takes the spot from Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

However, the second spot is still very much up in the air. With Paraguay and Australia with three points and a game to play between them, both can still reach six points. However, even if Turkiye beats USA, the American team has the tiebreaker over the Aussies and the Paraguayans.

2026 World Cup Group D standings

With Paraguay‘s win over Turkiye, the Group D standings are clearer than ever. In fact, we now know who will top the group, and who is going home definitively after Matchday 3.

1. United States – 6pts (+5 GD)
2. Australia – 3pts (0 GD)
3. Paraguay – 3pts (-2 GD)
4. Turkiye – 0pts (-3 GD)

Paraguay’s path to second place in Group D of World Cup

Paraguay can still end up as the Group D runner-up behind the USMNT. For them to do that, Paraguay need to beat Australia by any scoreboard necessary. Any other result will land them in the third place.

However, if Paraguay and Australia tie, both teams will end up with four points. Since the first tiebreaker is head-to-head but they tied, then it would go down to goal difference, where Paraguay is way below Australia. This would put Paraguay in big jeopardy as that goal difference could leave them out of the best eight third-places that go through to the KO rounds.

With this result, Turkiye are officially eliminated from the World Cup. Because the USMNT has already defeated Australia to move to six points and claim the top spot in the group, this defeat to a Paraguay side that played without Almiron due to a first-half red card leaves Turkiye with zero points through two matches.

Even with a win in their final match against the United States, Turkiye would only reach three points. That is mathematically not enough to catch up to the USA, which secured the top spot in the Group D standings, and even if Turkiye catches Australia or Paraguay at three points, they would lose the tiebreaker due to the head-to-head record between the tied teams.

What do Paraguay need to qualify?

As a reminder, Paraguay began their 2026 World Cup campaign with a harsh setback, suffering a 4-1 blowout loss against the United States in Los Angeles. However, this victory over Turkiye keeps them alive, restoring all the hope and confidence that they can qualify for the knockout stages.

Following this victory, Paraguay secured three incredibly important points and now prepare for an absolute final against Australia, knowing that they need to improve their goal difference to dream of qualifying in second place, as they would surpass Australia in points with a victory.

Otherwise, they will have to trust that their goal difference will be enough to advance as one of the best third-placed teams, though they would need at least a draw to reach four points and then depend on results from other World Cup groups.

Once the group stage concludes, the winner of the zone will face a third-placed team coming from Group B, E, F, I, or J, while the runner-up will play against the second-place finisher from Group G. Should they qualify as one of the best third-placed teams, the opponent will be the leader of Group E, I, or K.

Almiron was sent off in the 45th minute of the first half following a heated scuffle triggered by a hard Hakan Çalhanoglu foul on Isidro Pitta. As the match grew tense and players exchanged words, Almiron covered his mouth while speaking to Mert Muldur.

Under the new rules implemented for this tournament edition, a strict sanction is imposed on players who cover their mouths during an argument, not only with the referee but also with an opponent. If this action occurs, a straight red card is immediately shown.

Where did this new rule originate?

This entire new rule—for which the IFAB (International Football Association Board) unanimously approved two proposed amendments to the Laws of the Game to address discriminatory and inappropriate behavior—originated from an incident between Gianluca Prestianni and Vinicius Jr. during a match between Real Madrid and Benfica in the UEFA Champions League.

In that match, Prestianni covered his mouth while speaking to Vinicius, who alleged he received a racist insult. However, because the statement could not be clearly verified, the investigation became complicated. The Argentine player was later hit with a six-match ban by UEFA, though it was ultimately for homophobic, rather than racist, insults.

The objective of this new regulation is to prevent similar situations from going unpunished due to a lack of visual or auditory evidence. Soccer’s governing bodies believe that if a player hides what they are saying, it is because the content is likely punishable, meaning the action itself will now be penalized. This is why Almiron is already one of the players sanctioned under it, happening on the sport’s most prestigious stage, the World Cup.

Furthermore, within the same package of measures, it was also approved to hand a red card to any players or coaching staff members who walk off the pitch in protest of officiating decisions.