Turkey beats US 3-2 with last-gasp goal as Americans look ahead to World Cup Knockout Stage

Türkiye Break USA Hearts with 98th-Minute Winner in Epic World Cup Group D Showdown

Kaan Ayhan scored with the final kick of the match as Türkiye stunned the United States 3-2 in a breathtaking FIFA World Cup Group D clash in Los Angeles. Despite already securing first place, the USA's heavily rotated squad, managed by Mauricio Pochettino, suffered a dramatic defeat after conceding deep into stoppage time.

The hosts made a dream start when Auston Trusty fired home in the third minute, but Arda Güler quickly responded with Türkiye's first goal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Barış Alper Yılmaz then completed the first-half comeback before Sebastian Berhalter's stunning volley restored parity shortly after the break.

Christian Pulisic returned from injury and came close to grabbing a late winner, forcing a brilliant save from Ugurcan Çakır and missing another curling effort. However, it was Türkiye who had the final say, as Ayhan poked home Can Uzun's cross in the 98th minute to seal a sensational victory.

The thrilling win gives Türkiye huge momentum heading into the knockout rounds, while the USA must quickly regroup before facing Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32 after seeing their unbeaten Group D campaign come to a heartbreaking end.

Türkiye 3-2 United States final score, stats, facts, records

Date: Thursday, June 25th, 2026

Türkiye scored with each of their first two shots against the USA after failing to score with any of their 62 shots in their first two matches at this year’s FIFA World Cup.

Auston Trusty’s goal at 2 minutes, 13 seconds was the second-fastest goal the USA has scored at the FIFA World Cup (Clint Dempsey after 30 seconds vs. Ghana in 2014).

Auston Trusty’s goal was the 173rd in this year’s FIFA World Cup, surpassing the 2022 edition (172) for the most in the history of the competition.

At 21 years, 120 days old, Arda Güler became the youngest ever scorer for Türkiye in the FIFA World Cup.

The USA used 21 different starters during the group stage of this year’s FIFA World Cup, the seventh team ever to use 21 or more starters in a FIFA World Cup group stage.

Sebastian Berhlater is the first player on record (since 1966) to record a goal and an assist in a single FIFA World Cup match for the USA.

The USA are the fifth team in FIFA World Cup history to score in the first four minutes of both the first and second half and the first since Nigeria vs. Argentina in 2014.

The USA scored multiple goals in all three of their group stage matches at this year’s FIFA World Cup, the first time they’ve scored multiple goals in three straight World Cup matches.

Türkiye have come from behind to avoid defeat in a FIFA World Cup match for the first time, having lost the first six times they went behind in a World Cup match.

This is the second time the USA has lost a FIFA World Cup match after scoring the opening goal, also doing so against Spain in 1950 (1-0 ahead, 1-3 loss).

At 97:50, Kaan Ayhan has scored the second-latest winning goal in a FIFA World Cup match on record (since 1966) after IR Iran’s Roozbeh Cheshmi vs. Wales in 2022 (97:56), excluding extra time...

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