Turkiye defeated a second-tier United States team 3-2 on Thursday with a last-gasp goal from Kaan Ayhan at the Los Angeles Stadium for the first victory of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the co-hosts having already won Group D and a place in the knockout round.
The Americans, who made nine changes to their squad, took an early lead for the third straight match when Auston Trusty scored in the third minute to the delight of a sell-out crowd.
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Turkiye hit back through Arda Guler and Baris Yilmaz for their first goals of the tournament, before Sebastian Berhalter drove in a long-range effort shortly after half-time to level with the US. But substitute Ayhan had the last laugh when he found an empty net at the far post for the winner.
The US now turns its attention to Wednesday’s knockout round with Bosnia and Herzegovina in Santa Clara, while Turkiye will head home having salvaged at least some pride.
Player ratings of Turkiye vs. USA
Turkey
Çakir (7.0), Çelik (7.6), Kabak (7.2), Bardakci (7.3), Aydin (8.1), Özcan (7.4), Kökcü (7.7), Elmali (7.5), Güler (8.3), Yildiz (6.6), Yilmaz (8.4)
Substitutes: Söyüncü (No rating), Uzun (No rating), Ayhan (No rating), Müldür (No rating), Kahveci (No rating)
USA
Turner (5.6), Scally (6.1), McKenzie (5.6), Trusty (7.3), Robinson (6.3), McKennie (7.4), Berhalter (8.8), Reyna (6.1) Weah (5.6), Pepi (5.7), Aaronson (6.1)
Substitutes: Pulisic (6.1), Freeman (6.7), Dest (6.3), Zendejas (5.8), Tillman (no rating)
(With input from Reuters)
Published on June 26, 2026
