Türkiye 3-2 USA: Late goal ends unbeaten USA FIFA group run
Türkiye beat the United States 3-2 on June 25, 2026, in Los Angeles, with Kaan Ayhan scoring in the 98th minute on the last kick. The USA FIFA World Cup co-hosts had already won Group D, but the late defeat ended their unbeaten run ahead of a Round of 32 tie with Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1.
The Group D finale was a five-goal thriller between an already-eliminated Türkiye side and a rotated U.S. lineup. Mauricio Pochettino made nine changes from the team that beat Australia, resting stars while protecting players from suspension. What looked like a dead rubber turned into a harsh lesson for the Americans.
Key Takeaways
- Türkiye won 3-2 with goals from Arda Güler, Barış Yılmaz, and a stoppage-time winner from Kaan Ayhan after Auston Trusty and Sebastian Berhalter scored for the USA.
- The USA still finished Group D with a team-record six points and advance as group winners despite their first loss of the tournament.
- Pochettino rotated heavily, but defensive lapses and a late scramble at the back post cost the U.S. an unbeaten group campaign.
- Christian Pulisic returned from injury in the 58th minute and pushed the USA forward, yet Türkiye snatched the winner in the eighth minute of added time.
- The U.S. next faces Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1 in the San Francisco Bay Area for a win-or-go-home Round of 32 match.
Why did Türkiye beat the USA in the FIFA World Cup group finale?
The Americans started fast. Auston Trusty headed home from a Sebastian Berhalter corner in the third minute, sending the SoFi Stadium crowd into frenzy. Türkiye, already out of the tournament, responded with purpose rather than folding.
Arda Güler equalized in the 10th minute with a calm finish after combining with Barış Yılmaz, becoming Türkiye's youngest World Cup goalscorer. Yılmaz then put Türkiye ahead before halftime. Berhalter leveled with a fierce strike from the edge of the box in the 49th minute, and the USA looked the likelier winner for much of the second half.
As CNN reported, Can Uzun settled a cross at the far post in stoppage time, drew Matt Turner off his line, and fed Ayhan after a deflection off Alex Freeman's sliding block. Ayhan slid the ball home with what proved to be the final kick of the game.
What does the loss mean for Mauricio Pochettino and the USA FIFA squad?
CNN framed the result as the end of a World Cup honeymoon for Pochettino's side. After dominant wins over Paraguay and Australia, the U.S. entered the match knowing top spot was secure and a favorable knockout path awaited. The manager still left group play with six points and a Round of 32 date set for July 1 in the Bay Area.
Still, the loss stung. A rotated back line looked vulnerable when Türkiye pressed late, and Pulisic's return offered hope without a winner. Fitness management for the star forward remains a live issue before the Bosnia tie.
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How does the USA FIFA World Cup path look after Group D?
Despite the 3-2 defeat, the bigger picture for the USA FIFA campaign remains intact. The team secured six points from three matches, their best-ever group-stage haul at a World Cup, and topped Group D before the final whistle in Los Angeles. Türkiye bowed out bottom of the group on a high note.
Attention now shifts to single-elimination soccer. The U.S. meets Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, July 1, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Full match details are on ESPN, and highlights from the Türkiye clash are on FOX Sports.
Pochettino's task is clear: tighten defensively and decide whether Pulisic and other rested starters are ready for a full 90 minutes. The group stage delivered momentum; the knockout round will test whether this USA team is truly different.