World Cup: Group D: USA vs. Turkiye, Paraguay vs. Australia, 6/25/2026

[Live in the Now]

These games are at 10 PM Eastern. The US game is in LA and the Paraguay game is in the Bay Area.

So, the US game is a dead rubber and completely meaningless. Turkiye can't advance, and the US can't be displaced as second place. The one concern you'd have with the US is the potential for losing fitness if you bench players. It's a long time between the Australia game and the R32 game. Turkiye could either completely implode or come out with a point to prove. You couldn't possibly know.

As for Paraguay/Australia.n. There is so much for Australia to gain by drawing the match, they'd finish second. There is also a lot for Paraguay to gain with a draw. These aren't teams that expect to win the World Cup, they're teams that are happy to advance. In Paraguay's case they have an additional issue, to be third place with three points could knock them out. There will be one team below them (Curacao or Ecuador), but they need to be above four third place teams not just one. Their GD is also not great at -2. I think I'm going to suggest that they'll play for a win and Australia won't. But then also if Paraguay scores, Australia becomes absolutely desperate to score.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

Yeah if Australia scores first they are going to park the bus in epic fashion against a side lacking much scoring talent. Boring, but in their case a good strategy. Paraguay scores first and the Aussies have no choice but to go balls-out.

Not a lot for the US or Turkiye to play for. I would imagine the Americans will play subs to some degree because they've already won the group. Turkiye will either show some pride or lay down and die and I have no idea which one.

 

[qcal1427]

For the love of god please do not let any of our starters but particularly Adams or Robinson see the field

Haji
Zendejas-Reyna
Arfsten-Aaronson-Roldan-Weah
Trusty-M Robinson-Scally
Freese

 

[les Habs]

Would love to see Pulisic miss the rest of the tournament. Ditto for McKennie and Pepi.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

Yeah I too wish for f***ing injuries to human beings I've never met

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

For the love of god please do not let any of our starters but particularly Adams or Robinson see the field

How do the yellows work here? Any player on one will miss the next match if they get another? Will it reset after R32?

 

[qcal1427]

How do the yellows work here? Any player on one will miss the next match if they get another? Will it reset after R32?

2 yellows in 3 group stage games is a one game suspension. They reset once you get to the knockouts and again before QF

 

[qcal1427]

Yeah I too wish for f***ing injuries to human beings I've never met

Who has beef w Ricardo Pepi lol

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

Who has beef w Ricardo Pepi lol

Name is a letter away from Pepsi and poster is a huge Coca-Cola shill.

 

[luiginb]

Who has beef w Ricardo Pepi lol

I saw him break his arm in gruesome fashion this year. Just him being back means he's a warrior

 

[koyvoo]

Still not sure which game I’ll be focusing on here, even though the hamburgers vs turkey game has zero implications.

 

[KlausJopling]

Unsurprisingly US is very heavily rotated.

 

[Sol]

Alexi Lalas acts like a WWF announcer except much less talented.

 

[TheMoreYouKnow]

Alexi Lalas acts like a WWF announcer except much less talented.

Lalas sure got a lot of mileage out of being the most recognizable guy on the '94 team thanks to being a freakish looking ginger.

 

[TheMoreYouKnow]

The U.S. rotating is the smart play here. Not only do you rest guys, you ensure you got guys in the game with something to prove and play for.

 

[Live in the Now]

The U.S. rotating is the smart play here. Not only do you rest guys, you ensure you got guys in the game with something to prove and play for.

Yeah I feel the same way. Plus, most of the players rotating in will be key substitutes in the days to come. You have to keep them involved.

 

[koyvoo]

Bosnia confirmed as opponent for USA in round of 32.

 

[Summer Rose]

Bosnia confirmed as opponent for USA in round of 32.

Pretty unfair that we're going to have to face Bosnia AND Herzegovina while everyone else is only going to have to face one team.

 

[Osprey]

Bosnia confirmed as opponent for USA in round of 32.

But who will be Herzegovina's opponent? That's the real question.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

Pretty unfair that we're going to have to face Bosnia AND Herzegovina while everyone else is only going to have to face one team.

Facts

 

[Osprey]

Pretty unfair that we're going to have to face Bosnia AND Herzegovina while everyone else is only going to have to face one team.

Hey, you stole my joke almost word for word. For shame, Summer.

 

[koyvoo]

The bombs bursting in air, baby!

 

[Summer Rose]

Hey, you stole my joke almost word for word. For shame, Summer.

It's definitely a joke I read somewhere else and stole, although I don't recall where I originally read it. Probably safe to assume that I read you posting it though.

 

[Summer Rose]

The ball bouncing off the corner flag to stay in play is not something I think I've ever seen.

 

[gary69]

Ballon d'Or winning president is in the attendance.