Turkey stunned co-hosts the United States 3-2 in a dramatic stoppage-time finish on Thursday night, ending the Americans’ perfect group-stage run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite the hosts’ prior qualification already being secured. Kaan Ayhan’s eighth-minute added-time strike at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, sealed Turkey’s first World Cup victory in 20 years and capped a four-goal thriller that saw both teams trade blows in the final Group D fixture. The result, however, was not enough to prevent Turkey from finishing last in the group, while the USMNT advanced as group winners to face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 .

The match unfolded as a high-stakes exhibition with contrasting stakes: the USMNT, already confirmed as group winners, fielded a heavily rotated side, while Turkey, mathematically eliminated, fought for pride. The hosts struck first through Miles Trusty in the 12th minute, but Turkey responded through Arda Güler’s 28th-minute equaliser. The United States regained the lead through Antonee Robinson before half-time, only for Orkun Kökçü to restore parity in the 67th minute. Güler then completed his brace in the 87th, sending the contest into a nervy finale .

Ayhan’s dramatic winner arrived in the 90+8 minute, as he pounced on a loose ball inside the box to fire past Matt Turner. The goal triggered jubilant scenes among the Turkish bench and a subdued reaction from the predominantly American crowd, reflecting the symbolic significance of the result for a nation that had struggled to find the net in major tournaments. “It was a game of emotions, full of ups and downs,” said Turkey coach Şenol Güneş. “We showed character tonight, but the standings don’t lie—we didn’t qualify.”

In the parallel fixture in San Francisco, Australia and Paraguay played out a 0-0 draw, a result that secured the Socceroos’ progression to the knockout stage while leaving Paraguay’s fate dependent on other group outcomes. The point preserved Australia’s second-place finish, setting up a Round of 32 clash with either Denmark or Serbia .

The Group D finale underscored the unpredictability of the expanded 2026 tournament, where even dead-rubber matches delivered late drama. For the USMNT, the defeat—despite their qualification—served as a reminder of the fine margins in elite football, while Turkey exited the tournament with a morale-boosting victory that broke a long scoring drought. The knockout stage now awaits, with Bosnia and Herzegovina poised to face the Americans in a bid to continue their own unexpected journey.

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Articles

Border collies Ben and Sally have a special mission for the World Cup in Toronto: keeping the notorious Canada goose off the training pitch used by visiting teams to prepare for their games. reut.rs/4xUsfo4

bluesky bot · about 3 hours ago

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telegram bot · about 4 hours ago

3:2 gegen USA: Türkei verabschiedet sich mit Sieg Die USA waren schon zuvor als Gruppensieger festgestanden und spielen nun gegen Bosnien-Herzegowina. Trotz des Sieges herrscht große Enttäuschung bei der Türkei

der standard · about 4 hours ago

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france24 · about 4 hours ago

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