Türkiye vs USA

The match took only three minutes to produce its first goal. Auston Trusty rose highest to meet a Sebastian Berhalter corner, powering a header past Uğurcan Çakır to give the USA the earliest possible start (3').

Türkiye responded within seven minutes. Arda Güler — playing in his first World Cup — collected a lay-off from Barış Alper Yılmaz on the edge of the box and curled a left-footed shot inside Matt Turner's far post for his maiden World Cup goal (10').

The momentum swung fully Türkiye's way in the 31st minute. Orkun Kökçü lifted a cross from the right flank; Barış Alper Yılmaz met it with a volley that took a slight deflection off a US defender before nestling in the net. 2-1 to the side that had mustered 62 shots and zero goals across their first two group games.

Berhalter was booked for a foul in the 19th minute, but he made amends early in the second half. The Columbus Crew midfielder pounced on a loose ball inside the six-yard box after a corner was only partially cleared and slammed home the equaliser (49').

Both teams chased a winner. Christian Pulisic entered as a substitute in the 58th minute and immediately injected urgency into the US attack, forcing a sharp save from Çakır with a low drive. Giovanni Reyna, Brenden Aaronson, Joe Scally and Malik Tillman were also introduced as US head coach Mauricio Pochettino emptied his bench.

Türkiye's own substitutions proved decisive. Kaan Ayhan replaced Orkun Kökçü in the 88th minute with the score locked at 2-2. Deep into stoppage time — the eighth of eight added minutes — Ayhan latched onto a loose ball inside the area after a scramble from a corner and stabbed it past Turner to trigger wild celebrations among the Türkiye players and the sizeable Turkish diaspora crowd at SoFi Stadium.

Pochettino's decision to introduce Pulisic at 58' changed the game's energy but could not alter its destination. The real inflection came in the 88th minute when Kökçü — Türkiye's creative engine and the provider of Yılmaz's goal — was replaced by Ayhan, a centre-back by trade. Ayhan's late foray forward for a corner caught the USA defence in transition; when the ball fell to him after a failed clearance, he showed the composure of a forward to finish.

Kaan Ayhan (Türkiye) — Came off the bench in the 88th minute and scored the 98th-minute winner. His single touch in the box was the decisive moment of the match.

Arda Güler (Türkiye) — Scored his first World Cup goal with a composed finish from outside the box at 10'. The 21-year-old Real Madrid midfielder was a constant threat in the half-space and completed four dribbles.

Barış Alper Yılmaz (Türkiye) — A goal and an assist. His 31st-minute volley restored Türkiye's lead, and his lay-off set up Güler's opener. Led the line tirelessly.

Sebastian Berhalter (USA) — Booked early but scored the equaliser (49') and provided the corner assist for Trusty's opener.

Player of the Match: Barış Alper Yılmaz (Türkiye)

The provider data shows Türkiye scored three goals from five shots on target — a clinical conversion rate of 60% that stands in stark contrast to their tournament-opening 62 shots across two matches without a single goal. For the USA, two goals from four shots on target was efficient but not enough. Possession was likely evenly split after the opening flurry. The key number: Türkiye had not scored in 217 minutes of World Cup football before Güler's 10th-minute strike; they scored three in the next 88 minutes.

The USA finish Group D with six points (2-1-0 record) and claim top spot. They will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 on Wednesday, 1 July 2026 at a venue to be confirmed. It is the first time the USMNT have advanced to the knockout stage of a standalone men's World Cup since 2014.

Türkiye finish third in Group D with three points (1-0-2) and are eliminated. Their tournament ends with three goals scored (all in this match) and two conceded.

For bettors: Türkiye's implied odds of a win were understandably long given their pre-match form and elimination status. The 3-2 final scoreline rewarded over-backers significantly — the match produced five goals after the USA's first two group games combined for only three.

A dead-rubber that refused to die. Türkiye salvaged pride and a maiden World Cup win in stunning fashion, while the USA will head into the knockout phase with questions about their defensive set pieces — both US goals conceded came from corner situations — but with momentum intact as group winners. Pochettino's side showed resilience coming from behind twice, but Ayhan's late dagger is a reminder that no group-stage fixture is ever truly meaningless.