Mauricio Pochettino's United States side have the opportunity to complete a flawless group stage when they face Turkey in their final Group D fixture at SoFi Stadium. With qualification already secured in first place, the USMNT can approach this match with freedom rather than anxiety.

The contrast in circumstances could scarcely be more stark. The United States are through as Group D winners, while Turkey bow out in fourth place after back-to-back defeats to Australia and Paraguay — two results that have raised uncomfortable questions for coach Vincenzo Montella.

A different USA from 1994

When the United States last hosted the World Cup, in 1994, they crept through the group stage with a single win before Brazil ended their campaign in the round of 16. This edition tells an entirely different story. Pochettino has built a side that is tactically sophisticated, more professionally developed than any previous USMNT generation, and capable of feeding off the energy of a passionate home crowd.

Folarin Balogun has led the attack with purpose, while Malik Tillman of Bayer Leverkusen has been among the most influential figures in midfield. The supporting cast across the flanks has added width and creativity that Group D opponents simply could not cope with.

With a likely round-of-32 meeting against a third-placed team from Groups B, E, F, I, or J — with Bosnia & Herzegovina considered the probable opponent — maintaining momentum with a third consecutive win is the priority.

Turkey's troubled tournament

Turkey have shown little to suggest they can halt the American charge. Despite accumulating 102 touches inside the opposition box and registering 62 shots across their two matches, they have failed to score a single goal — a statistical imbalance that will concern Montella deeply.

The presence of Arda Guler in their starting eleven offers a spark, but Turkey's possession-heavy approach has yielded nothing but defeats. They are unlikely to enjoy as much of the ball against the United States, and their attacking record suggests the end result may be equally painful.

FourFourTwo predicts Turkey 0-3 USA.