ATLANTA — The U.S. men’s national team’s World Cup got considerably tougher Tuesday as Turkey beat Kosovo to advance into Group D.
The Turks were considered favorites among the four-team UEFA qualifying path that also included Romania and Slovakia, beating the Romanians and Kosovans 1-0.
“It’s a good team,” Christian Pulisic said. “So it’s gonna be a really great game in L.A. Something to look forward to, our last game of the group.”
The U.S. did not have its best possible lineup for a 2-1 defeat to Turkey in a friendly last June — there were no Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun, Tim Weah or Antonee Robinson in the squad that Mauricio Pochettino eventually took to last summer’s Gold Cup — but nevertheless, it’s a reminder that nothing is going to come easy in June.
Though the U.S. draw was considered highly favorable, with Paraguay and Australia also in its group, it is ultimately a four-team quadrant without any obvious pushovers. The Americans should be favored, but unlike some other groups in the expanded 48-team World Cup, anyone could conceivably win it.
And Turkey, which will face the U.S. on June 25 in what could be a pivotal group stage finale, may be the toughest opponent of the three.
Turkey’s squad features a pair of superstars up front in Real Madrid star Arda Güler and Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz. Inter Milan midfielder Hakan Çalhanoglu is not far behind — he and Brighton defender Ferdi Kagioglu both had a strong pair of games against Kosovo and Romania. Kerem Aturkoglu, a striker who plays for Fenerbahçe, scored the only goal of Tuesday’s match.
Manager Vincenzo Montella, who has a decorated career coaching mainly in Italy, led Turkey to just its third-ever World Cup. It last made the tournament in 2002, going on to finish third in the competition held in South Korea and Japan.
“My mindset doesn’t change,” goalkeeper Matt Freese said. “I don’t care who I’m playing against. Whenever I step across the white line, I’m trying to win. My aim and expectation in goal is to win. Doesn’t matter who I’m playing against.”
Elsewhere in the UEFA qualifiers, Sweden beat Poland, Czechia beat Denmark and Bosnia and Herzegovina beat Italy.
Sweden joins the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia in Group F. Czechia goes into Group A with Mexico, South Africa and South Korea. Bosnia, which kept Italy out of a third straight World Cup, will be in Group B with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.
The Democratic Republic of Congo also beat Jamaica in FIFA’s Intercontinental Playoff to secure qualification into Group K with Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia. The last spot of 48 was between Iraq and Bolivia in a match that kicked off late Tuesday night.
