Turkey scores late winner to defeat United States at World Cup

US Defeated by Turkey in 2026 FIFA World Cup

The United States suffered their first defeat of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, losing 3-2 to cohosts Turkey in an action-packed match at Los Angeles Stadium. The US had entered the game seeking a third win, but with a focus on next Wednesday’s last-32 meeting against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Turkey, already eliminated from the tournament, was looking to restore some pride in their final group stage match. Despite being without a goal after two previous losses, Turkey scored three times through Arda Guler, Baris Alper Yilmaz, and Kaan Ayhan.

The US took an early lead with Auston Trusty scoring on a corner kick just under three minutes into the game. However, Turkey equalized in the 10th minute through Guler’s goal. The US regained the lead before halftime, but Turkey scored again in the second half to take the lead for the first time this World Cup.

Christian Pulisic, the US’s biggest star, was introduced in the 49th minute and had several scoring opportunities, but ultimately could not find the back of the net. In stoppage time, Kaan Ayhan scored the winning goal for Turkey, securing a 3-2 victory over the US.

The match saw several yellow cards handed out, including one to Sebastian Berhalter, who was involved in a confrontation with Turkiye’s bench. The crowd was electric throughout the game, with both teams giving their all despite the low stakes of the match.

Source: Al Jazeera