USMNT Falls to Turkey in Final Group D Match of 2026 World Cup

The United States men's national team (USMNT) came close to finishing their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group D campaign on a high note, but a last-minute strike by Turkey spoiled the night. The match, held at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, ended 3-2 in favor of Turkey, who were already eliminated before kickoff.

Mauricio Pochettino's heavily rotated USMNT lineup showed promise throughout, led by Sebastian Berhalter, who made history as the first modern U.S. player to both score and assist in the same World Cup game. He assisted Auston Trusty for an early goal in the third minute and later scored himself shortly after halftime.

Match Overview

The USMNT struck first when Trusty found the net from a corner delivered by Berhalter. Yet defensive errors allowed Turkey to respond quickly, with goals from Arda Guler and Orkun Kokcu putting the Europeans ahead 2-1 just after the half-hour mark. Despite Turkey’s earlier dominance in the tournament, their performance was lackluster, managing only eight shots compared to their previous tally of 62.

Christian Pulisic returned from injury to inject energy off the bench for the USMNT in the second half, nearly tipping momentum back to the Americans. However, an ankle injury to Auston Trusty late in stoppage time left the U.S. a man down at a critical moment.

Final Moments and Injury Concerns

In the dying seconds, amid frantic pressure in the penalty area, the USMNT failed to clear the ball. Kaan Ayhan capitalized on the chaos, scoring Turkey’s winning goal with the final kick. The victory sparked jubilant celebrations among the Turkish players and fans despite their prior elimination.

The USMNT also faced setbacks with Auston Trusty forced to limp off due to an ankle injury during stoppage time, highlighting some physical toll on the squad.

Lineups and Key Events

Match Highlights

• 3rd minute: Auston Trusty scores from a corner after Sebastian Berhalter’s delivery.
• 10th minute: Arda Guler equalizes for Turkey following defensive lapses.
• 31st minute: Orkun Kokcu puts Turkey ahead with a slick team move.
• 48th minute: Sebastian Berhalter blasts home a powerful shot to level the game.
• Late stoppage time: Kaan Ayhan nets the winner for Turkey.

Post-Match Thoughts

"It was a strong showing from our backups. It's disappointing to lose at the end, but the effort was there," said coach Mauricio Pochettino.

Despite the loss, the USMNT moves forward to the knockout stage, having already secured top spot in Group D. Their next opponent will be Bosnia & Herzegovina in the Round of 32.

Broadcast and Schedule

The match kicked off at 7 p.m. PT (10 p.m. ET) and was broadcast on FOX and Telemundo in the United States, with streams available on Fubo and Peacock.

Here are the USMNT's 2026 World Cup group stage results:

• June 12: United States 4-1 Paraguay
• June 19: United States 2-0 Australia
• June 25: United States 2-3 Turkey

The USMNT now prepares for the knockout rounds with hopes of advancing further in front of home crowds.