The US men are advancing, so how do they approach their group-stage finale vs. Turkey?

What to do? Multiple options, multiple decisions.

The United States men’s soccer team never has been in this position, having secured a place in the second round of the World Cup with a preliminary match remaining.

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Thanks to victories over Paraguay and Australia in their first two outings, the cohosts not only have advanced, they’ve clinched the top spot in Group D.

So Thursday night’s finale against Turkey in Los Angeles, once viewed as the featured match of the foursome, is meaningless. The Crescent-Stars, having been blanked twice, already are eliminated. For the Americans, a victory, defeat or draw is irrelevant.

Thus the choices for coach Mauricio Pochettino. Should he play to win to keep his squad’s momentum going? Which lineup should he field? How many starters should be rested? How many should play and for how long?

The Yanks never have had that luxury. Since they returned to the global stage in 1990, they’ve been knocked out of the tournament before the group finale or had to get a result or some outside help.

This time, they not only have the benefit of playing the long game, they need to. The United States can’t afford to have key players injured or suspended for a second yellow card in an inconsequential match against an opponent with nothing to lose.

Four starters — striker Folarin Balogun, midfielder Tyler Adams, and defenders Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson — are sitting on yellows. Another would keep them out of the next match.

Christian Pulisic, the team’s mainspring, hasn’t played since halftime of the Paraguay opener after coming off with a tight calf muscle. He finally practiced with his mates this week and apparently is fit to go. But should he?

The United States was able to live without him in the Australia match, where Ricardo Pepi stepped in and performed capably alongside Balogun.

But if Pulisic is held out rather than have him risk reinjury, he will not have seen action in 18 days when he takes the field on July 1 for the next match.

Should Pochettino use him against the Turks so that Pulisic can regain his rhythm under fire? If so, for how long? The first half? The first half-hour? Until Pulisic feels his calf start to seize up?

It’s probably prudent to leave him on the bench. The Americans showed that they could win without Pulisic against rivals who customarily struggle to score.

But they won’t see teams like that in the second round and beyond, so they’ll need the man who makes them tick up front. Pulisic simply has to be available.

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So do the four men who’ve already been cautioned. Balogun, who scored twice against Paraguay, is the top sniper. Richards is the best defender. The United States can’t risk having them out of commission for a knockout match.

Fortunately, Pochettino has reliable alternates. Sebastian Berhalter and Gio Reyna came off the bench in both previous matches and can handle a 90-minute assignment.

Tim Weah, a 2022 starter who’s also seen action, can step in, too. And Matt Turner, the keeper four years ago, can give Matt Freese a break in goal.

“The versatility of this team is insane,” said Adams.

Since the United States didn’t have to qualify for the tournament, Pochettino was able to look at dozens of candidates in action and use a variety of lineups in friendly matches since the autumn of 2024. So he should feel comfortable mixing and matching against Turkey.

That said, the Americans should play to win. No Cup contender wants to go into the second round off a loss, even in a contest that doesn’t matter. But the match matters greatly to the Turks, who never dreamed that they’d be two-and-out.

They finished third in 2002, the last time they qualified. They were European quarterfinalists two years ago. They were expected to advance and possibly win this group. Losing to the Aussies, 2-0, and to the Paraguayans, 1-0, despite playing the second half a man up, was shattering.

“We should have won these games,” said forward Arda Guler. “Everybody’s sad; everybody’s crying.”

Beating the Americans in front of a full house on their home turf would allow the Crescent-Stars to head home with some measure of consolation. And they have the advantage of having nothing more to lose.

So the Turks can play with abandon and take out their frustration against a rival that can’t risk retaliation. The Americans, who “don’t take [expletive],” will have to resist the instinct to rumble should proceedings grow chippy.

They’ll need to be smart and stoic on Thursday, because there are more important encounters ahead. Playing the long game in a five-week tournament is what the contenders do.

Winning the first two matches, which the Yanks hadn’t accomplished since 1930, earned them that opportunity — and the options that come with it. That’s an unprecedented, and well-earned, perk.

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