World Cup 2026: USMNT stunned by Türkiye in stoppage time, losing perfect group stage run
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Aaronson said "I'm not worried at all" after Türkiye ended USMNT's perfect run with a stoppage-time goal — is that confidence or denial?
Cognitive DissonanceSelf-Serving BiasLoss AversionSocial Identity Theory
Theory Briefing
- A stoppage-time goal by Türkiye ended the USMNT's perfect group stage record, a late blow that reframes how the team's form is read.
- Aaronson's immediate reassurance — "the team's in a great spot" — is exactly what players say when they need to believe it most.
- Losing a perfect run this late in a match tests whether a squad's confidence is built on results or on something deeper.
- The 2026 World Cup is on home soil for the US, raising the stakes of any stumble in public perception.