Turkiye edges out US 3-2 in World Cup 2026 match

US Defeated by Turkey in 2026 FIFA World Cup Group Stage Match

In a match played at Los Angeles Stadium, Turkiye defeated the United States 3-2 in stoppage time, handing the cohosts their first defeat of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The US had already secured the top spot in Group D and were seeking to extend their winning streak with a third victory.

Turkiye, meanwhile, was looking to restore some pride after two consecutive losses to Paraguay and Australia. Despite being eliminated from the tournament, the team’s objective was to end on a positive note.

The match saw nine changes in the US lineup, including backup centre-back Auston Trusty, who scored the opening goal just under three minutes into the game. The US had made several other substitutions during the first half, but Turkiye managed to equalize through Arda Guler’s goal in the 10th minute.

The match remained level at halftime, with both teams making changes to their lineups. In the second half, the US regained the lead through Brad McKenzie’s goal, only for it to be disallowed due to a rules infraction. Turkiye then took the lead again, this time through Eren Elmali’s goal in the 31st minute.

The US equalized once more in the 49th minute, with McKenzie scoring from a long throw-in. The match remained level until stoppage time, when Kaan Ayhan scored the winning goal for Turkiye.

Source: Al Jazeera