USA fans take over SoFi Stadium ahead of World Cup showdown vs Turkey

Outside SoFi Stadium, the buildup to Thursday night’s Group D finale between the United States Men’s National Soccer Team and Turkey turned into a full-scale street party, with fans transforming the surrounding plazas into a loud, colorful pre-match celebration.

Crowds packed the walkways around SoFi Stadium well before the 7 p.m. kickoff, where the match will air live on FOX.

The atmosphere blended organized fan activations with spontaneous celebrations as supporters in red, white and blue moved through the stadium grounds alongside others taking in the scene.

Among the most visible moments was a freestyle soccer performance on a brightly colored ground mat, where one fan kept the ball in the air with tricks as onlookers gathered around.

In other areas, groups dressed in bold patriotic costumes, including red-and-white striped outfits and tall matching hats that added a theatrical layer to the pregame energy.

A FOX broadcast setup also sat in the middle of the action as production crews prepared for live coverage, while streams of fans passed through the area with the stadium looming behind them.

The match carries major stakes for the US Men’s National Soccer Team.

The Americans have already secured advancement to the knockout stage and finished atop Group D after opening the tournament with a 4-1 win over Paraguay and a 2-0 shutout of Australia.

Those results marked the first time in the modern World Cup era that the United States has won its first two group-stage matches.

Thursday night now presents a chance to extend that run into history.

A win or draw against Turkey would give the United States its best-ever World Cup group-stage finish, surpassing its previous high of five points.

It would also secure a perfect three-win start to a World Cup group stage, something the team has never achieved.

The broader tournament context adds to the moment.