USA inch closer to World Cup last-32 as group winners with Turkey result tonight the key

The United States are on the verge of securing top spot in World Cup Group D after Mauricio Pochettino’s side followed up an opening win over Paraguay with a dominant victory against Australia in Seattle.

USA’s place in the last-32 as group winners will be confirmed if Turkey fail to beat Paraguay in Wednesday evening’s later fixture. Should Turkey win, the two sides’ final group game in Los Angeles on Thursday 25 June will decide who finishes top of the group.

USA’s route as group winners

As Group D winners, the United States would face one of the advancing third-placed teams in the last-32 — currently projected to be Bosnia-Herzegovina, though that picture is expected to shift before the group stage concludes. That match would be held at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Wednesday 1 July.

A last-16 berth from that position would pit the USA against either the winner of Group G or another qualifying third-placed side. Group G features Belgium, Iran, New Zealand and Egypt. That potential fixture would return to Lumen Field in Seattle on Tuesday 6 July.

USA’s route as group runners-up

If Turkey win their remaining two fixtures and claim Group D, the USA would drop to second place and meet the Group G runner-up in the last-32 at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Friday 3 July.

Progressing from there as runners-up would set up a last-16 tie against either the winner of Group J or the runner-up of Group H. Group J contains Argentina, Austria, Jordan and Algeria; Group H features Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde. That match would be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Wednesday 7 July.