USMNTs final World Cup group stage match a deserved and unprecedented celebration
INGLEWOOD, Calif.— This night, from its beginning, was always going to be a celebration for the U.S.
national team. Not a coronation, because there is much more work to be done before this World Cup can be considered a resounding success for the home side. But a celebration — as Group D winners — for the work that was done in the previous two matches before kickoff against Turkey on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. This represented the rarest of rarities for the USMNT in World Cup play in that no result was needed in the third and final group match — whether it be to advance to the knockout round or seeding/positioning for it. Never in America’s history in the World Cup has it been in this position of power before. Thanks to the resounding victories over Paraguay (4-1) and Australia (2-0) this night was always going to be a 90-minute no-stress express for the Americans, because they could lose 6-0 to Turkey and still move on to the round of 32 as winners of Group D. No result — win, lose or draw — could enhance or deter the U.S.positioning for its first knockout-round match, July 1 in Santa Clara, Calif., almost certainly against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Dating back to 1990, a span of the previous eight World Cups in which the Americans have competed, in every one of them the U.S.
needed a result to either advance out of group play or enhance its seeding for its first knockout-round match. Here are several examples: l In 2022, the U.S.needed a result against Iran in the third match of group play and won, 1-0, to advance to the knockout stage. l In 2014, it had already qualified for the knockout round, but lost to Germany, 1-0, in the third group-stage match and then had to play one of the best teams in the world, Belgium, in the knockout round and lost, 1-0. l In 2006, the U.S.
needed a result against Ghana in the third group stage match and lost, 2-1, never advancing to the knockout stage. l In 1994, the last time the World Cup was pl...