Türkiye ended their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign on a high with a dramatic 3-2 victory over the USA at Los Angeles Stadium, thanks to a stoppage-time winner in a thrilling Group D finale.
Despite the defeat, the USA finished top of the group and advanced to the knockout stage after already securing qualification with a perfect record from their opening two matches.
The result offered Türkiye some consolation after a disappointing tournament. Vincenzo Montella’s side had already become the second team eliminated from the competition after Haiti, following back-to-back defeats to Australia and Paraguay. Although they entered the match without a point or a goal, they had created an impressive expected goals tally of 3.53 across those games and were determined to finish with pride.
The United States, meanwhile, had already wrapped up first place in Group D for the third time in their World Cup history and for the first time since the 2010 tournament in South Africa. Mauricio Pochettino took the opportunity to rotate his squad ahead of the Round of 32, knowing neither Paraguay nor Australia could overtake his side.
The Americans made a flying start. Inside two minutes, Berhalter’s dangerous outswinging corner caused chaos in the Türkiye penalty area. Bardakci failed to clear properly, allowing Trusty to fire a shot that forced Ugurcan Cakir into an early save before another corner followed immediately.
The breakthrough arrived just moments later. Berhalter delivered another pinpoint corner from the left and found an unmarked Trusty at the back post. The defender controlled brilliantly before smashing his finish into the near post to give the United States a 1-0 lead after just two minutes and 13 seconds.
Berhalter’s assist helped produce the second-fastest goal ever scored by the USA at a FIFA World Cup, behind only Clint Dempsey’s famous strike against Ghana in 2014.
Türkiye responded brilliantly and finally celebrated their first goal of the tournament. Arda Guler combined cleverly with Aydin before allowing the ball to run perfectly into the path of Yilmaz. The striker calmly squared the ball back across goal, where Guler arrived to sweep home the equaliser and make it 1-1.
The match settled into an entertaining rhythm, although history remained against the hosts. The United States had won only one of their previous 20 World Cup matches against UEFA opposition, drawing seven and losing 12, with that lone success coming against Portugal in 2002.
The USA thought they had regained the lead on the half-hour mark. Berhalter’s corner found Miles Robinson, whose header eventually dropped kindly for McKenzie to score from close range after Pepi’s effort had been saved. However, celebrations ended quickly as an offside decision ruled the goal out.
Türkiye then completed a superb first-half turnaround. Kenan Yildiz started the move down the left before finding Guler outside the penalty area. The Real Madrid midfielder spotted the overlapping run of Elmali, whose low cutback found Orkun Kokcu for a composed finish that gave Türkiye a 2-1 lead.
The United States almost levelled before the break through another Berhalter corner. Trusty rose highest once again but headed narrowly over the crossbar.
The hosts restored parity immediately after halftime. Türkiye failed to deal with a long throw, and after Bardakci’s clearance dropped invitingly outside the box, Berhalter struck a precise first-time effort that squeezed past Cakir to make it 2-2.
The goal also carried another milestone. The United States had now scored eight goals during the group stage, their highest tally in a single World Cup tournament, surpassing the seven they managed in both 1930 and 2002.
The Americans nearly completed the comeback shortly after the hour mark. Berhalter floated another superb pass into the path of Christian Pulisic, but Cakir denied the forward from a tight angle before Aaronson somehow failed to convert the rebound into an empty net.
Cakir then produced one of the saves of the tournament. Scally’s cross eventually reached Pulisic after Pepi’s overhead kick missed completely. The forward instinctively volleyed towards goal, but Cakir somehow managed to fingertip the effort onto the post before the ball bounced clear.
Türkiye continued to threaten on the counter. Yildiz cut inside in trademark fashion before curling a powerful effort inches wide of the far post as both teams searched desperately for a winner.
The United States pushed forward deep into stoppage time. Pulisic slipped Pepi through on goal, but Soyuncu recovered brilliantly to block before the assistant referee raised the offside flag.
Then came the decisive moment with virtually the last kick of the match. Guler showed exceptional composure in a crowded area before releasing Ozcan 25 yards from goal. Ozcan lifted a perfectly weighted cross to the far post, where Uzun squared the ball across the face of goal for Ayhan to convert from close range, sealing a dramatic 3-2 victory for Türkiye.
Although Türkiye bowed out of the tournament, they ended their campaign with a memorable win and finally found the attacking quality that had deserted them in their opening two matches. The United States, meanwhile, remain Group D winners and will now turn their full attention to the knockout rounds.
