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Kaan Ayhan scored a late winner as Turkiye handed the USA their first defeat in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Updated on 26 Jun 2026
Turkiye beat the United States 3-2 with Kaan Ayhan’s late winner in a clash full of dead rubbers that gave away the advantage. 2026 World Cup they have made their most difficult test to the end of the deaf race.
Already crowned Group D winners, the US arrived in Los Angeles looking to extend their good start with a third win, but will be keeping an eye on next Wednesday. last meeting-32 against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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For Turkiye, already relegated and without a goal after heavy losses to Paraguay and Australia, the only goal was to restore pride.
Despite the underdogs and well-rounded rankings of both teams, the packed Los Angeles stadium was deafening.
In the third game, the US started to dream. One of the nine substitutes, full-back Auston Trusty, was unmarked at the far post from a US corner, given time to collect the ball with his left foot, and blast it home.
It was the first goal for a Celtic international, and – just three minutes later – the second fastest by the US at a World Cup.
But Turkiye did not give up. Having not scored in 62 attempts in their first two games, it was a lucky 63 for the Turks, and their star, Arda Guler.
The Real Madrid striker tricked Mark McKenzie with a clever dummy, allowing the ball to slide into Baris Alper Yilmaz’s right.
Yilmaz crossed past Guler, who beat Matt Turner to level on 10 minutes.
With Brad Pitt and Edward Norton in the Hollywood crowd, the game threatened to turn into a team fight, as the Turkiye bench ran onto the field to protest against Sebastian Berhalter, who received a yellow card.
The Americans thought they would regain the lead, McKenzie’s second US back put the ball into the net. But his strong response to Ricardo Pepi’s shot was ruled offside.
In the 31st minute, the US found itself behind for the first time in this World Cup.
Guler saw the run of Eren Elmali, and fed the defender, who cut the ball from the left to Yilmaz, who directed it past the keeper.
‘Captain America’ returns
The halftime break proved a good tonic for the US. In the 49th minute, he rebounded from a long throw by McKenzie.
The ball was cleared by Turkiye to Berhalter, who managed to smash his shot into the bottom corner.
The crowd erupted again before half-time as Pochettino sent on Christian Pulisic, arguably the USA’s biggest star, who would take the hosts’ high hopes of chasing a knock.
Nicknamed “Captain America”, Pulisic made himself the anthem of “USA”, before appearing since he was injured in the first half of the opening victory against Paraguay two weeks ago.
Pulisic immediately looked happy, twice trying to block from distance after running in from the left. He didn’t know much about the ball that came off his tree.
Turkiye started knocking on the door again. Yildiz’s effort was deflected inches wide in the 72nd minute.
And in stoppage time, Ayhan interfered with the US team, and hit the ball close.
Turkey was jubilant, as the American players gathered around the final whistle, seemingly determined not to let a gut punch ruin a campaign that was off to a flying start.
