Kaan Ayhan scored a 98th-minute winner as Turkey defeated a rotated USA side 3-2, though the co-hosts still advanced as Group D winners despite the loss
Turkey stunned the United States 3-2 at Los Angeles Stadium on Thursday, with substitute Kaan Ayhan scoring a dramatic 98th-minute winner to shatter the co-hosts’ hopes of a perfect group-stage record. Despite the loss, a heavily rotated USA squad still advanced as Group D winners.
The USA opened the scoring instantly in the third minute when defender Auston Trusty drilled home a left-footed strike from a Sebastian Berhalter corner. Turkey responded through Real Madrid star Arda Güler in the 10th minute, splitting the US defense to tuck away the equalizer. Barış Alper Yılmaz fired Turkey into the lead in the 31st minute following a creative buildup involving Güler and Kenan Yıldız.
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Sebastian Berhalter brought the Americans level early in the second half with a sensational long-range hit in the 49th minute. Christian Pulisic came off the bench following a calf injury and narrowly missed scoring twice. Deep into stoppage time, a mad scramble from a Turkish set-piece allowed Ayhan to stab home the game-winner.
Turkey finished with 10 shots, four on target, while the USA managed 19 shots, seven on target. American possession stood at 53 percent compared to Turkey’s 47 percent.
USA manager Mauricio Pochettino rested regular starters like Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams, and Folarin Balogun to protect them from card suspensions. Turkey, who had failed to score in their opening 180 minutes of the tournament, restored pride with their three-goal outburst.
According to a report by Accra Street Journal, despite dropping their unbeaten run, the United States still topped Group D with six points. They are officially scheduled to play Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.
Before Kickoff
Venue and Kickoff Time
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- Stadium: Rose Bowl Los Angeles Stadium (Pasadena, California)
- Kickoff: 02:00 GMT (Note: Late night kickoff in GMT format)
⚽ Pre-Match Analysis
📋 Predicted Lineups
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- Turkey Starting XI: Çakır; Çelik, Demiral, Bardakcı, Kadıoğlu; Özcan, Çalhanoğlu; Güler, Yazıcı, Aktürkoğlu; Yılmaz.
- USA Starting XI: Turner; Scally, Richards, Ream, A. Robinson; McKennie, Musah, Reyna; Pulisic, Balogun, Weah.
📊 Match Facts and Head-to-Head (H2H)
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- H2H Record: Turkey defeated the USA 2-1 during their most high-profile meeting at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup.
- Key Fact: The USMNT defensive line has kept consecutive clean sheets, conceding zero goals in the tournament so far.
Source: Accra Street Journal
Last Updated on June 27, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu
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Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
