The United States and co-hosts Germany will bid to end their full World Cup group stage campaigns on Thursday, while the Netherlands and Japan look poised to join them in the last 32.
The US topped Group D with a game to spare after wins over Paraguay and Australia, and will look to maintain that momentum against already eliminated Turkey in Los Angeles.
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Mauricio Pochettino could rest a number of first-choice players, with Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams and Folarin Balogun risking missing the next round if they pick up another yellow card.
Striker Christian Pulisic has recovered from a calf injury that has limited him to just 45 minutes in the tournament so far and has urged the US to put their foot on the accelerator.
“Going to the playoffs will definitely feel better with a win, that’s why we’re going to push,” said Pulisic.
“It’s an amazing opportunity… We don’t really need to win, but it’s a World Cup game, and we all want to do our best and do well.”
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The US has not reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup since 2002, but a strong start has raised hopes that it could continue its run at home.
Australia and Paraguay square off in a battle for second place in Santa Clara. The draw will favor the Socceroos due to their better goal difference but it may be enough to go through with Paraguay.
Germany are guaranteed to progress as Group E winners following victories over Curacao and Ivory Coast, putting first-round exits from the last two World Cups behind them.
“I am very happy that we have not finished our journey, but it is very important that we remain calm,” said the German coach, Julian Nagelsmann.
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“We won two games, one was clear, the other was very close. We want to win again tomorrow and we will see who we play on Monday (in the last 32).”
The four-time world champions will face an Ecuadorian side that desperately needs a win to extend their stay in the tournament.
Ivory Coast are on course to finish second in the division and are expected to play Curacao, who remain in contention after trying to hold Ecuador 0-0 in the final.
– Three-way battle in Group F –
Group F is still wide open as the Netherlands, Japan and Sweden can still finish first.
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In Kansas City, the Dutch faced a poor Tunisia team that had lost four straight and fired their coach after the opening game.
Herve Renard was parachuted in after Sabri Lamouchi was sent off following Sweden’s 5-1 thrashing but his arrival did not change anything for Tunisia, as a 4-0 loss to Japan eliminated them from the competition.
Japan are level with the Netherlands on four points when they face Sweden in Arlington. After a brutal start to the World Cup, the Swedes were beaten 5-1 by the Dutch.
Brazil secured top spot in Group C on Wednesday as Vinicius Junior scored two more goals in a 3-0 win over Scotland in Miami, where Neymar made his first international appearance since October 2023.
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Carlo Ancelotti’s team will meet the runners-up in Group F, while Morocco will face the winners after being beaten by Brazil at the top on goals.
Morocco came from behind to beat Haiti 4-2 and also finished with seven points. Meanwhile, Scotland face a tough wait to see if they will make it as one of the eight third-placed teams.
Hosts Mexico progressed to the last 32 with a 3-0 defeat of the Czech Republic in a blistering Estadio Azteca to wrap up their perfect record in Group A. Mexico’s reward is to play their last last 32 match at the same stadium.
The most surprising thing on this day was the entry of South Africa for the first time in its history as it came out 1-0 beating South Korea 1-0 to take the second place in Group A.
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Switzerland advanced as Group B winners ahead of Canada after a 2-1 win at home in Vancouver and Bosnia-Herzegovina joined them after beating Qatar 3-1 to take third place.
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