World Cup 2026: Kaan Ayhan's 98th-minute winner sinks USA in Turkey thriller

Five goals, two leads and a winner with the last kick

Turkey beat the United States 3-2 at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, in a World Cup 2026 Group D fixture decided with almost the final kick. It was a thriller in search of consequences. The United States arrived already top of the group and finished there. Turkey arrived needing a great deal more than a win, and got the win without the rest.

The numbers tell a story of an even, open game. Turkey posted 3.01 expected goals (xG, a measure of chance quality) to the United States' 2.13, and created five big chances to four. Possession went the other way, with the United States holding 53% to Turkey's 47%, and the Americans landing seven shots on target to Turkey's three. The xG suggests Turkey were marginally the sharper side; the scoreline, settled in the 98th minute, agreed.

For all the drama, the table barely moved. The United States, on six points with a goal difference of plus four, won Group D. Turkey, on three points with a goal difference of minus two, finished fourth and are out of the group stage. A defiant exit, but an exit.

Pochettino's rotation: how both sides lined up

Trusty inside three, Ayhan at the death

The United States could hardly have started better. Inside three minutes Auston Trusty turned in a Sebastian Berhalter delivery to put them ahead. The lead lasted seven minutes. Arda Güler levelled on ten, set up by Baris Alper Yilmaz, who then turned provider into scorer himself on 31, finishing an Orkun Kökçü pass to send Turkey in front. Berhalter, booked on 19, had the busiest evening of anyone in the United States shirt.

Four minutes after the restart Berhalter struck again, this time as scorer, to make it 2-2. From there it became a procession of substitutions. Christian Pulisic came on for Timothy Weah just before the hour, with Sergiño Dest, Álex Zendejas, Alex Freeman and Malik Tillman following. Turkey shuffled their own pack late on. And then, deep into stoppage time on 98 minutes, Kaan Ayhan found the goal that won it. The last kick mattered most.

The room backed the USA; Turkey didn't read the script

The futbol.so community leaned towards the United States, with a clean 2-0 in their favour the most popular call. That reading was widely shared, with fans in Colombia and Argentina settling on the same scoreline, while Spanish voices leaned towards a 1-1 draw. The official forecast also pointed to a United States win as the most likely outcome.

Reality declined the invitation. The United States did score twice, as much of the room expected, but Turkey scored three and kept neither side's clean sheet intact. So the popular read got the winner wrong and the goals plentiful. The forecast that called a United States victory the likeliest result was, on this evidence, simply outvoted by ninety-eight minutes of football.

Video highlights

Highlights | Türkiye 3-2 USA | FIFA World Cup 2026™

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HIGHLIGHTS - Türkiye v USA | Hosts Look For Perfect Finish! | FIFA World Cup 2026

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MONTELLA saluta con una VITTORIA, USA vincono il girone | Turchia-USA 3-2 | FIFA World Cup | DAZN

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World Cup: Turkey vs USA

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World Cup: Turkey vs USA

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World Cup: Turkey vs USA

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World Cup: Turkey vs USA

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World Cup: Turkey vs USA

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A dead rubber on paper produced one of the group's better nights. Turkey leave with pride and three points but no further; the United States lose the game and keep the group. Attention now turns to the knockouts, with the United States set to face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32.