Pulisic Sat, USA Fell 3-2, Round of 32 Slate Is Next: What It Means for DFS

Turkey stunned the US 3-2 on a goal in the final seconds last night at SoFi Stadium. Pulisic was on the bench, Pepi started up top, and Pochettino rotated nine spots from the Australia win. USA still advances. Now your DFS attention shifts to July 1 vs Bosnia and Herzegovina in San Francisco, and Balogun's role just got a lot more interesting.

What Happened vs Turkey

Per Fox Sports and confirmed lineups, Pochettino made nine changes for the Turkey group finale. McKennie was the only holdover from the Australia starting eleven. Pulisic, who has been managing a left calf injury since he came off at halftime against Paraguay on June 12, was listed on the bench but did not play. That is useful DFS information. USA is in the Round of 32. Pochettino rested his core. The starters who played Turkey are the ones who needed minutes, not necessarily the ones who lock into your lineups going forward.

Pulisic's Status for July 1

Pulisic told reporters Wednesday he was "feeling good" and expected to play a part against Turkey. He did not. He sat the full 90. That is not a green light for your next slate. The calf strain has cost him three weeks. He came off the bench against Australia, started on the bench against Turkey, and still has not logged a full match since Paraguay. If you are building a USA-heavy parlay for the Bosnia and Herzegovina slate on July 1, Pulisic is a wait-and-see until the official lineup drops. Do not lock him in early.

Who Benefits: Balogun and Reyna

Folarin Balogun has two World Cup goals in this tournament and 0.88 xG across group play. If Pulisic starts but is limited, Balogun becomes the confirmed penalty option and a strong anytime-scorer target. If Pulisic does not start, Balogun gets the full striker run and all the spot-kick responsibility. Both outcomes favor Balogun in your DFS lineup. Balogun has been clinical in the box when given chances. He is the highest-floor USA forward right now regardless of how Pulisic's status resolves. Giovanni Reyna gets the creative role if Pulisic is managing minutes. Set pieces, through balls, and shots from range are all in Reyna's game. Reyna is a secondary DFS target with real upside in a game where USA should see plenty of possession against Bosnia.

Who to Fade

Turkey is out. Ignore that lineup entirely for DFS purposes. On the USA side: the nine-man rotation Pochettino used last night gives you a clean read on who he trusts vs. who needed competitive minutes before a knockout game. Anyone who started against Turkey and struggled is a fade candidate until the Bosnia lineup is confirmed. Pepi started up top and the offense stalled until the second half. If Balogun is healthy, Pepi is the fade.

The Germany Angle

Germany was supposed to be the contrarian stack for this week's slate. The idea was that Julian Nagelsmann might rest Musiala, Wirtz, Havertz, and Sane against Ecuador, making Ecuador a live underdog play. That thesis did not hold. Germany started all four of those attackers, and Ecuador still won 2-1 on a Gonzalo Plata winner. Ecuador is through to the Round of 32. Germany is out. The rotation narrative was wrong, and it is a good reminder: confirmed lineups only, no speculation as DFS gospel.

The Wanna Angle

USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina locks on July 1 at 8 PM ET from San Francisco. That is your next live World Cup slate on Wanna Parlay. The Pulisic injury timeline is the controlling variable. If he is out or limited, Balogun is the top USA DFS target on the slate. Reyna is the secondary play. Both are worth monitoring through Tuesday's injury updates. For tournament slates like this, the Main Event and Daily Contests on Wanna reward differentiated builds. If Pulisic misses again and the public is still loading up on him, fading Pulisic for Balogun becomes a real field-separation move.

Get Your Lineup In Before Lock

July 1, 8 PM ET is the hard lock. Watch for the confirmed starting eleven to drop roughly 75 minutes before kickoff. The moment Pulisic's status is official, the right call on USA's top pick becomes clear. Use the AI Parlay Generator in the Wanna app to build your World Cup entry fast. The slate won't wait. Sign up with code LIVE and receive a 100% deposit match up to $250. Real-money contests available in select US states. Free-to-play contests available in all 50 states and DC. See Wanna Parlay for full state eligibility.