US Advances
United States Secures 3-2 Victory Over Turkey, Advances to World Cup Knockout Stage
Turkey scored a dramatic last-gasp goal to beat the United States 3-2 in the final Group D match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 25. Defender Kaan Ayhan struck in the 98th minute at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, in front of an estimated 70,000 fans, according to Sky Sports. The result barely matters for the Americans, who had already clinched the top of Group D and now advance to face Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32 on July 1.
The U.S. entered the game having won its first two matches — a 4-1 rout of Paraguay and a 2-0 victory over Australia, per CBS News. Coach Mauricio Pochettino deliberately played a rotated lineup to protect key players from yellow-card suspensions. Turkey, already eliminated before kickoff, had not scored a single goal in the tournament until the 10th minute of this game, according to The Guardian.
How a 2-2 Draw Turned Into a Heartbreaking US Loss
Auston Trusty gave the U.S. an early lead in the 3rd minute, but Turkey's Real Madrid star Arda Güler equalized just seven minutes later, per NBC Sports. Orkun Kökçü then put Turkey ahead 2-1 in the 31st minute. Sebastian Berhalter pulled the U.S. level again with a low driving goal in the 49th minute, setting up a tense finish.
Then, deep into stoppage time, Ayhan struck to seal Turkey's only win of the 2026 World Cup, according to Japan Today. The Guardian noted the scoreline "flattered Turkey," as the U.S. dominated possession in the second half. A controversial offside call on Ayhan's goal sparked debate on social media, though officials let it stand.
Pochettino's Rotation Plan and Pulisic's Return
Pochettino started nine new players to shield yellow-carded regulars like Weston McKennie and Folarin Balogun from suspension. He defended the call after the match, saying his goal was to "protect players with yellow cards" ahead of the knockout rounds, per FOX Sports. Analyst Maurice Edu backed the strategy, calling it the right move even at the cost of a group-stage result.
The biggest positive from the night was the return of star winger Christian Pulisic, who entered in the 58th minute after missing time with a calf injury. Analysts noted his "immediate impact" upon entering the game, per FOX Sports. His fitness will be closely watched heading into the July 1 clash in Santa Clara.
Injury Concerns Cloud an Otherwise Bright US Outlook
Trusty, who scored the opener, rolled his ankle late in the match. He tried to stay upbeat, saying: "They had what... three shots, three goals? I rolled my ankle pretty badly but will be OK," per The Guardian. His availability for the Round of 32 is uncertain and could force Pochettino to reshuffle the backline. The U.S. gave up all three Turkish goals on just three shots, which raised questions about defensive depth.
Sebastian Berhalter finished the night with a goal and an assist. In a post-match interview reported by NPR, he said: "We let some moments get away from us, but I thought performances overall were good... I'm proud of the whole group." The U.S. scored 8 total goals in the group stage — 4 against Paraguay, 2 against Australia, and 2 against Turkey.
Bosnia-Herzegovina Waits: A Historic Underdog Matchup Ahead
The U.S. will face Bosnia-Herzegovina on July 1 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara at 8:00 PM ET, per MLSSoccer.com. Bosnia is making its first-ever World Cup knockout stage appearance. They qualified by beating Qatar 3-1 to finish as one of the best third-place teams, per KOMO News. Veteran striker Edin Džeko, now 40 years old and Bosnia's all-time leading scorer, leads their attack.
Bosnian media has framed the clash as a "David vs. Goliath" moment against the host nation, per Reuters. A U.S. win would set up a potential Round of 16 match in Seattle on July 6, according to CBS News. For now, the Americans finish Group D in first place with 6 points and a plus-4 goal difference — and their eyes firmly on what comes next.
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