Türkiye ended their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a dramatic 3-2 victory over the United States at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Thursday, June 25, 2026. The match concluded during the morning of June 26 in India, with 70,492 spectators watching Kaan Ayhan score with the final meaningful action.
Auston Trusty gave the United States the lead after only two minutes and 13 seconds, controlling Sebastian Berhalter’s deep corner before finishing from close range. Arda Güler equalised in the 10th minute after receiving a reverse pass from Barış Alper Yılmaz.
Türkiye completed the first-half turnaround in the 31st minute when Orkun Kökçü’s effort deflected into the goal from Yılmaz, who received the official scoring credit. Berhalter restored parity four minutes after half-time with a controlled half-volley from outside the penalty area.
Ayhan, introduced in the 88th minute, decided the contest in the eighth minute of stoppage time. Can Uzun sent the ball across the goalmouth after Türkiye recycled possession, and Ayhan stretched at the far post to score into an exposed net.
The defeat did not affect the United States’ position at the top of Group D. Mauricio Pochettino’s side finished with six points and advanced to face Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Türkiye finished fourth with three points and were eliminated despite securing their first victory of the tournament.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Türkiye 3-2 United States full match scorecard and key incidents
How did the United States score early despite making nine changes to their starting team?
Pochettino retained only McKennie and Ricardo Pepi from the team that defeated Australia. The four players carrying yellow cards, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams and Folarin Balogun, were protected ahead of the knockout stage.
The rotation did not prevent another aggressive start. The United States won an early corner, and Berhalter delivered beyond Türkiye’s first defensive line towards Trusty at the far post.
Trusty controlled under pressure and finished after two minutes and 13 seconds. It was the second-fastest United States goal in FIFA World Cup history, behind Clint Dempsey’s 30-second opener against Ghana in 2014.
The goal also became the 173rd of FIFA World Cup 2026, surpassing the previous record of 172 goals scored across the entire 2022 tournament. The record was broken before the expanded competition had even completed its group stage.
The rotated side showed immediate attacking intent, but the defensive coordination was less reliable. That imbalance became visible when Türkiye responded seven minutes later.
Why did Arda Güler transform Türkiye after their tournament-long scoring drought?
Türkiye had failed to score from 62 attempts across defeats against Australia and Paraguay. That lack of efficiency had already ensured their elimination before they faced the United States.
Güler ended the drought with Türkiye’s first attempt of the match. Yılmaz received possession centrally, recognised Güler’s movement and supplied a reverse pass into the penalty area.
Güler guided a left-footed finish beyond Turner in the 10th minute. At 21 years and 120 days, he became Türkiye’s youngest scorer in FIFA World Cup history.
The goal immediately increased Türkiye’s confidence. Their passing became quicker, Yıldız moved closer to the central attackers and Kökçü began receiving possession beyond the United States midfield.
Güler’s influence extended beyond the goal. He helped initiate the sequence that produced Türkiye’s second and later contributed to the move preceding Ayhan’s stoppage-time winner.
How did Türkiye exploit the United States’ unfamiliar defensive combinations?
The United States started Trusty, Miles Robinson, McKenzie and Joe Scally as a back four. The combination had not developed the same tournament rhythm as the preferred defensive unit.
Türkiye repeatedly found openings between the full-backs and centre-backs. Yılmaz moved across the attacking line, while Güler and Yıldız occupied the spaces on either side of Berhalter and McKennie.
The second goal demonstrated the problem. Eren Elmalı advanced beyond the United States midfield on the left and reached the byline before cutting the ball back towards Kökçü.
Kökçü struck from inside the area, and the ball travelled into the net after making contact with Yılmaz. FIFA officially credited the goal to Yılmaz and the assist to Kökçü.
The United States created more attempts overall, but Türkiye’s attacks frequently reached more dangerous positions. That was reflected in their higher expected-goals total despite attempting only half as many shots.
Why was Mark McKenzie’s disallowed goal an important first-half turning point?
The United States appeared to have equalised before Türkiye’s second goal when McKenzie forced the ball over the line during a crowded set-piece sequence. The goal was disallowed because players were positioned offside during the phase.
The incident highlighted the United States’ strength from dead-ball situations. Berhalter’s deliveries and McKenzie’s physical presence repeatedly caused difficulties for Türkiye’s defence.
However, the offside ruling prevented the hosts from regaining control. Türkiye scored their second goal shortly afterwards, converting the momentum swing into a 2-1 half-time advantage.
Trusty later headed narrowly over from another corner during stoppage time. The pattern suggested that Türkiye remained vulnerable whenever the United States placed multiple targets around Çakır.
How did Sebastian Berhalter become the United States’ most influential player?
Berhalter assisted Trusty’s opening goal and then scored the equaliser in the 49th minute. He became the first United States player in the recorded era since 1966 to produce both a goal and an assist in the same FIFA World Cup match.
The equaliser followed McKenzie’s long throw and a sequence of blocked clearances inside Türkiye’s penalty area. The ball eventually reached Berhalter outside the box, where he controlled his body position and struck a half-volley through the crowd.
The shot bounced before reaching Çakır and entered the bottom corner. It was an important individual response after Berhalter had received the match’s only yellow card in the 19th minute.
His contribution also strengthened the United States’ midfield depth before the knockout phase. Pochettino will still prefer Adams and McKennie in major matches, but Berhalter demonstrated that he can provide set-piece quality and shooting threat from outside the area.
What did Christian Pulisic’s return show before the Bosnia and Herzegovina match?
Pulisic entered in the 58th minute for his first appearance since leaving the opening match against Paraguay with a calf problem. His arrival produced one of the loudest reactions of the evening.
The attacker immediately gave the United States greater movement around the penalty area. He received between Türkiye’s midfield and defence, combined with Aaronson and Pepi and forced the opposing defenders to retreat.
Pulisic came close to scoring when Çakır produced a strong save and pushed his effort onto the post. He later sent a left-footed curling attempt narrowly wide from outside the penalty area.
The performance suggested that Pulisic had regained sharpness, although his minutes continued to be managed. His availability will be central to the United States’ Round of 32 prospects against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Why did Kaan Ayhan’s late introduction decide the match?
Ayhan replaced Kökçü in the 88th minute as Montella added a fresher runner to midfield. The substitution appeared designed to strengthen Türkiye’s defensive structure and protect the draw.
Instead, Ayhan became the match-winner. Türkiye retained possession during the final seconds, Güler helped move the ball through pressure and Uzun carried the attack towards the right side of the penalty area.
Uzun sent a low delivery across goal after Turner was drawn towards the near post. Ayhan stretched beyond the retreating defenders and directed the ball into the empty net.
The goal was timed at 97 minutes and 50 seconds. It became the second-latest winning goal recorded in a regulation-time FIFA World Cup match since 1966.
Ayhan had been on the pitch for approximately ten minutes. His intervention allowed Türkiye to leave the tournament with a victory, even though it could not alter their elimination.
What does Auston Trusty’s injury mean for the United States knockout preparations?
Trusty remained one of the United States’ most influential players throughout the match. In addition to scoring, he attempted three shots and repeatedly attacked Berhalter’s deliveries.
The defender went down during the closing stages and required treatment before being carried away on a stretcher. The initial concern centred on an apparent hamstring injury, although the severity was not immediately confirmed.
The United States already have alternative central defenders in Richards, Tim Ream, McKenzie and Robinson. However, losing Trusty would remove a left-footed defender and one of the team’s strongest aerial threats.
Pochettino’s rotation was designed partly to protect the preferred players before the knockout stage. The potential injury therefore became the principal negative consequence of a match that did not affect the United States’ group position.
How did the Paraguay and Australia draw complete the final Group D standings?
The United States had already secured first place before kick-off and remained top despite the defeat. Their victories over Paraguay and Australia gave them six points and a goal difference of plus four.
Australia and Paraguay drew 0-0 in the simultaneous match. Both teams finished with four points, but Australia secured second place through a superior goal difference.
Paraguay finished third with a goal difference of minus two and entered the ranking of third-placed teams. Türkiye finished fourth because their late victory lifted them only to three points.
The United States and Australia therefore qualified automatically. Türkiye were eliminated, while Paraguay’s third-place route depended on the wider comparison across the remaining groups.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D final points table
What does the United States vs Bosnia and Herzegovina Round of 32 fixture mean?
The United States will face Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara on Wednesday, July 1. Bosnia and Herzegovina reached the knockout phase after finishing third in Group B with four points.
Pochettino is expected to restore Richards, Antonee Robinson, Adams and Balogun after protecting them from possible suspension against Türkiye. Pulisic’s return also gives the co-hosts their most important attacking player ahead of the knockout match.
Bosnia and Herzegovina will present a physical and aerial challenge. Their ability to attack crosses and set-pieces means the United States must resolve the defensive communication problems Türkiye exposed in Los Angeles.
The United States will enter as Group D winners, but the Türkiye defeat removed any suggestion that home advantage and attacking momentum alone will be sufficient. The knockout phase will punish the same positional errors more severely.
Key takeaways from Türkiye vs United States at FIFA World Cup 2026
- Türkiye defeated the United States 3-2 through Kaan Ayhan’s goal in the eighth minute of stoppage time.
- Auston Trusty scored after two minutes and 13 seconds, the second-fastest United States goal in FIFA World Cup history.
- Trusty’s opener became the record-breaking 173rd goal of FIFA World Cup 2026.
- Arda Güler scored Türkiye’s first goal of the tournament and became his country’s youngest FIFA World Cup scorer.
- Barış Alper Yılmaz completed Türkiye’s first-half turnaround in the 31st minute.
- Sebastian Berhalter recorded one goal and one assist for the United States.
- Christian Pulisic returned from injury and forced Uğurcan Çakır to push a shot onto the post.
- Ayhan scored at 97 minutes and 50 seconds after entering as an 88th-minute substitute.
- The United States remained Group D winners and will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32.
- Türkiye finished fourth with three points and were eliminated despite winning their final match.
Share this:
Discover more from Business-News-Today.com
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
