Türkiye ended their FIFA World Cup 2026 journey with pride after a dramatic 3-2 win over the United States in Los Angeles.
The Group D match was full of action from the first minutes. USA started fast, Türkiye answered well, and the game was only settled deep into stoppage time.
Kaan Ayhan was the hero for Türkiye. He scored in the 98th minute to give his team a famous win before they left the tournament.
The result did not change the group table in a big way. USA had already secured first place in Group D. Türkiye was already out before kick-off. But the match still had meaning for both teams.
USA coach Mauricio Pochettino made many changes to his team. He rested several key players because the next round was already safe. It gave other players a chance to show what they can do.
That plan looked good very early.
Auston Trusty gave USA the lead in the third minute. Sebastian Berhalter sent in a deep corner. Trusty controlled it well and hit a strong left-foot shot into the net.
Türkiye could have lost belief after that early goal. Their World Cup had already been tough. But they reacted in a strong way.
Arda Guler brought Türkiye level in the 10th minute. He played a smart one-two with Baris Yilmaz and moved through the USA defence. His finish was calm and clean.
The goal was a big moment for Guler. He became Türkiye’s youngest scorer at a World Cup. It was also a sign that Türkiye still had fight left in them.
Türkiye then took the lead after 31 minutes. Eren Elmali found space on the left and sent the ball across goal. Baris Yilmaz was there to finish and make it 2-1.
The USA defence looked open at times. Türkiye used the gaps well and played with more confidence after their first goal.
But USA did not stay quiet.
Three minutes after the second half started, Berhalter scored the equaliser. His shot from the edge of the box was powerful. It brought the home crowd back into the match.
Pochettino then brought on some of his bigger names. Christian Pulisic also came into the game and gave USA more energy in attack.
The match was open in the final stages. Both sides had chances. USA wanted to keep their winning run alive. Türkiye wanted to leave the World Cup with a strong final message.
That message came in the eighth minute of stoppage time.
Ayhan reacted first inside the box and forced the ball over the line. Türkiye players celebrated with joy. It was late, messy, and important.
Match Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Türkiye vs USA |
| Score | Türkiye 3-2 USA |
| Competition | FIFA World Cup 2026 |
| Group | Group D |
| Venue | Los Angeles Stadium |
| Key player | Arda Guler |
The result means USA still finish top of Group D with six points. They are now looking ahead to the knockout round.
Türkiye finish bottom of the group with three points. It is not the campaign they wanted. But this final win is something positive to take home.
The match also showed that USA still has work to do in defence. They are strong going forward, but Türkiye showed that they can be hurt by fast passing and sharp runs.
For Türkiye, the win is a reminder of their young talent. Guler was named Player of the Match and looked like a player who can lead the team in the future.
More match details are available through the official FIFA match centre.
