Why didn’t Fresno’s Max Arfsten play against Türkiye? USMNT fans left wondering
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Max Arfsten did not play against Türkiye.
- Pochettino’s unexplained decision not to play Arfsten drew questions from fans.
- Arfsten had not logged any minutes through the team's first three matches.
The biggest question among Fresno soccer fans is likely this: Why didn’t Fresno native Max Arfsten see the field in the U.S. men’s national team’s match against Türkiye?
The U.S. had already clinched the top spot in Group D and secured a place in the knockout stage, making Thursday’s match at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood an opportunity to rest regular starters and give reserves valuable minutes.
Several backups got that opportunity. Arfsten did not.
Why Mauricio Pochettino chose not to play the former San Joaquin Memorial standout remains a mystery.
The decision also drew questions on social media, where fans wondered why Arfsten had yet to log a minute through the team’s first three matches of the tournament.
As the U.S. advances to the knockout stage, Arfsten’s chances of seeing the pitch appear to be dwindling unless Pochettino decides he can provide a boost.
U.S. will play Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1 in the Round of 32 at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara.
