By Francis Onyach - Reporter
U.S June 26, 2026 -Turkey bowed out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with their heads held high after producing one of the shocks of the tournament, defeating co-hosts the United States 3-2 in a thrilling Group D encounter at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Although the victory came too late to rescue their campaign, Vincenzo Montella's side finally found the cutting edge that had deserted them in their opening two matches, handing the Americans their first defeat of the tournament while ending their own World Cup on a positive note.
The result had little impact on qualification. The United States had already secured a place in the Round of 32 before kickoff thanks to victories over Paraguay and Australia, while Turkey had been eliminated following successive defeats to Australia and Paraguay. Australia, despite not playing on the day, advanced alongside the United States after Turkey's earlier setbacks had left them unable to challenge for a top-two finish.
With qualification already assured, United States coach Mauricio Pochettino rotated his squad, giving opportunities to several fringe players. The hosts made a dream start when defender Auston Trusty headed home inside the opening two minutes from a Sebastian Berhalter corner. The goal was Trusty's first for the national team and became the second-fastest goal the United States has ever scored at a FIFA World Cup. It also continued the Americans' remarkable habit of scoring inside the opening ten minutes of every group-stage match.
Turkey, however, refused to let another match slip away.
After dominating possession throughout much of the tournament without reward, Montella's men finally found the clinical edge they had been missing. Midfielder Arda Güler inspired the response, drawing Turkey level before Orkun Kökçü completed the turnaround with a composed finish that gave the Crescent Stars a 2-1 lead before halftime. The comeback reflected Turkey's attacking quality, which had often been overshadowed by poor finishing in earlier matches against Australia and Paraguay.
The United States responded positively after the interval.
Only four minutes into the second half, Sebastian Berhalter equalized following a goalmouth scramble to make it 2-2. The midfielder, who had already provided the assist for the opening goal, enjoyed another influential evening and looked determined to preserve America's perfect group-stage record. The game became increasingly open, with both teams creating opportunities in an entertaining end-to-end contest that contrasted sharply with Turkey's previous two outings.
As the clock ticked into stoppage time, it appeared both teams would settle for a draw.
Instead, Turkey produced one final moment of quality.
Deep into the 98th minute, Arda Güler again played a decisive role, combining brilliantly with Can Uzun before the ball found defender Kaan Ayhan. The experienced centre-back kept his composure to fire home the dramatic winner, sparking emotional celebrations among the Turkish players and supporters. It was Turkey's first victory at a World Cup since their memorable run to third place in 2002 and a fitting reward for a side that had often played attractive football without getting the results to match.
More from Kenya
For the United States, the defeat ended an otherwise excellent group-stage campaign.
Pochettino's side still finished top of Group D with six points after impressive victories over Paraguay and Australia. However, the defensive frailties exposed against Turkey will give the coaching staff plenty to think about ahead of the knockout rounds. The Americans conceded three goals after having looked defensively solid in their first two matches, and the performance suggested there is still room for improvement if they are to mount a serious challenge for the title.
Australia were the other big winners despite not being involved in the day's action.
The Socceroos secured second place in Group D after earlier victories over Turkey and Paraguay, earning a deserved place in the Round of 32. Tony Popovic's side impressed throughout the group stage with disciplined defending and clinical finishing, proving that consistency across all three matches is ultimately what determines qualification.
For Turkey, the result was bittersweet.
Their first win of the tournament arrived only after elimination had already been confirmed. Earlier defeats to Australia and Paraguay proved too costly, leaving Montella's men to wonder what might have been had they converted more of the chances they created in those matches. Nevertheless, their spirited display against one of the tournament hosts offered encouragement for the future and demonstrated the quality within a young squad led by the outstanding Arda Güler.
The match also contributed to tournament history. Auston Trusty's early opener was the 173rd goal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, surpassing the record of 172 goals scored at the 2022 tournament in Qatar and making this the highest-scoring World Cup in history.
While the United States and Australia now turn their attention to the knockout stage, Turkey leave the tournament with pride restored. Their campaign may have ended in disappointment overall, but defeating the hosts in one of the competition's most dramatic matches ensured the Crescent Stars departed with a performance worthy of their potential.