United States was beaten 3-2 by Turkiye in a back-and-forth encounter at Los Angeles Stadium, but still finished top of Group D having won its opening two matches against Paraguay and Australia.

Auston Trusty put the co-host into a third-minute lead, and Sebastian Berhalter's 49th-minute goal appeared enough for a point after Arda Guler and Baris Alper Yilmaz had put Turkiye into a half-time lead.

However, Kaan Ayhan's 98th-minute winner denied USA a clean sweep of wins in the group stages.

Pochettino was asked after the game if it felt like a missed opportunity for USA to win all three group games for the first time in its history, leading the Argentinean to state that people were thinking too small with their objectives.

He said: "Making history is winning the [FIFA] World Cup.

"It's not winning three matches only within the [FIFA] World Cup. I don't really understand. It's a little bit petty if you will, you're thinking a little too small.

"You're telling me you could make history, what does it mean to win three matches if you lose the next one?

"The mood is like we [are going] home tonight and Turkiye is staying. I need to [remind] you and everyone that we won the group. Sorry guys, we won."

USA will next face Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32 at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on Thursday (AEST).

Pochettino remained prickly when asked if there could be any lasting impact from the close defeat to Turkiye.

"What would you like me to tell you? Whatever I tell you, it's not going to convince you," he added.

"A newspaper is going to write whatever they think or whatever they want. But honestly speaking, I go back to [this], we qualified as number one and we're going to the next round."

Turkiye was already heading home after dispiriting defeats to Australia and Paraguay, despite having been fancied to compete well at the tournament by many.

It at least heads home with a consolation victory against the co-host, and head coach Vincenzo Montella is confident it will not take Turkiye another 24 years to qualify for a FIFA World Cup, having previously qualified in 2002.

"Hopefully we will do better, not in 24 years but earlier than that," he said.

"We can go back home with our chin up. Football hurts, but I got emotional at the end of the game. Today's match matters much more than 1,000 victories.

“We will return to our country with our heads held high.

“Being able to concede and respond shortly afterward is an indicator of the spirit within this team.

“We could have taken better advantage of some opportunities. We could have been more effective, but sometimes the ball simply does not go in. That is football."