USA vs. Turkey final score, result: New-look USMNT fights but loses late to wrap up World Cup group stage

Mauricio Pochettino would have been thrilled with the way his USMNT backups wrapped up 2026 FIFA World Cup Group D play on Thursday night in Los Angeles, as Sebastian Berhalter starred for a heavily rotated side that very nearly played to a draw with Turkey.

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Unfortunately, they fell apart right at the end, as Kaan Ayhan came off the bench and won an emotional 3-2 victory for Turkey with the final kick of the game, who were eliminated coming into the match.

In a meaningless match for both teams, as the United States were confirmed as group winners after the first two matches while Turkey had already been eliminated on two defeats. Still, Turkey celebrated like they had won the title, as they were able to head home and face their disappointed fans with something in hand.

Overall, the performance from the USMNT was strong, which will soften the blow of the last-gasp defeat a bit. Berhalter became the first U.S. man in modern World Cup history to score and assist a goal in the same game, feeding the corner to Auston Trusty for his third-minute goal before bagging one himself shortly after the second-half restart.

Turkey took advantage of a pair of U.S. defensive mistakes to score a pair, swinging from 1-0 down to 2-1 in front just past the half-hour mark on goals from Arda Guler and Orkun Kokcu. Yet the European side, who had already been confirmed bottom of the group before kickoff, were largely poor, only able to muster eight total shots on the day after leading the tournament field with 62 through the first two matchdays.

After missing the last match with a calf injury, Christian Pulisic came off the bench for the final 30 minutes of play, looking bright and swinging momentum to his team within seconds of entering. Pochettino very nearly got his team out of the match without an injury to worry about, but Auston Trusty cropped up with an ankle injury early in stoppage time, leaving the USMNT to play a man down for the final stages of the game.

Then, the late scramble in the penalty area saw the U.S. fail to clear the ball, and 

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USA vs. Turkey final score

Location: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA)
Referee: Mustapha Ghorbal (ALG)

Starting lineups:

USA (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Turner (GK) — 23. Scally (Freeman, 77′), 6. Trusty, 2. McKenzie, 12. M. Robinson — 14. Berhalter, 7. Reyna (Dest, 77′) — 11. Aaronson (Zendejas, 77′), 8. McKennie (Tillman, 86′), 21. Weah (Pulisic, 58′) — 9. Pepi.

Turkey (4-2-3-1, right to left): 23. Cakir (GK) — 2. Celik (Soyuncu, 84′), 14. Bardacki, 15. Kabak, 13. Elmali — 5. Ozcan, 6. Kokcu (Ayhan, 88′) — 24. Aydin (Muldur, 90′), 8. Guler, 11. Yildiz (Uzun, 84′) — 21. Yilmaz (Kahveci, 90′).

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Who won USA vs. Turkey in 2026 World Cup?

FULLTIME: USA 2-3 Turkey

12:02 a.m. ET: The referee blows his whistle on a nearly successful night for the United States wrapping up group stage play, but one that ultimately ends in defeat!

It’s a massively disappointing finish, even if it’s a meaningless one, as the U.S. squander all their good work in a match that concludes with a loss. Even while the game does not have any competitive stakes, it still feels like a gut punch for the United States to have lost that game.

In any case, it’s on to the knockout round!

90+8 min: GOAL! TURKEY

12:03 a.m. ET: OH DEAR, TURKEY HAVE WON IT AT THE DEATH! HEARTBREAK FOR THE UNITED STATES!

A mad scramble in the penalty area sees Can Uzan unmarked at the far post, and he tries to poke the ball through defenders and into the net. It doesn’t get there, but it does reach a sliding Kaan Ayhan who slams it home and wheels away to celebrate like they’ve won the World Cup!

Watch in USA:

Türkiye takes the lead in the final moments of stoppage time 🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/2MJlu60wtG

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 26, 2026

90th min

11:53 p.m. ET: Auston Trusty, who looks to be playing a role down the left of the defensive line, tries to get forward and send in a cross, but he looks to have injured himself as he twists his ankle on the plant. He’s in a lot of pain, needing treatment, but the USMNT are out of substitutions after Malik Tillman came on for Weston McKennie a few minutes ago.

Trusty comes back on a few minutes later, with a heavy limp, as he will gut out the final stages of this match.

He was stretchered off the field, but is testing out if he can go on the touchline while the U.S. plays a man down.

77th min: Chance, USA!

11:40 p.m. ET: CHRISTIAN PULISIC FIRES WIDE WITH HIS LEFT FOOT! IT JUST FLIES INCHES BEYOND THE FAR POST!

Just after a triple change by the United States, they take a corner short and Pulisic crops up at the top-right corner of the penalty area and rips a shot that comes very close to giving the U.S. the lead!

Watch in USA:

Christian Pulisic just misses this one with his left foot 👀 pic.twitter.com/mZa05ohKD1

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 26, 2026

72nd min: Chance, Turkey!

11:35 p.m. ET: Kenan Yildiz fires just wide with a curling effort from just inside the penalty area! The Juventus youngster has been largely invisible today, but he crops up on the left running at Joe Scally before cutting in on his right and firing a shot that just flies inches wide of the far post.

Watch in USA:

Kenan Yıldız nearly scores a beautiful goal for Türkiye 🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/QE2zYkbHhO

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 26, 2026

67th min: Hydration break

11:30 p.m. ET: We’re heading to the fourth quarter of the match as Turkey will be thankful for the hydration break which brings a spell of U.S. pressure to an end. It’s amazing how much Christian Pulisic has changed the game, as Turkey are now forced to respect the left winger much more.

Can the U.S. find the breakthrough? They’re still shaky when Turkey get out in transition, but haven’t been forced to defend a ton.

63rd min: Chance, USA!

11:26 p.m. ET: RICARDO PEPI OFF THE POST! The U.S. striker tries to loop a header over the goalkeeper, but he makes an incredible fingertip save, leaping and touching the ball off the post!

Then, on the rebound, Weston McKennie has a go but his shot is blocked! It’s a siege right now from the U.S., can they profit?

Turkey goalkeeper Cakir is down injured right now, as he landed hard at the end of his outrageous save. He looks ok to continue after some long treatment, holding his ribs and arms but eventually able to shake it off.

62nd min: Chance, USA!

11:25 p.m. ET: HOW HAS BRENDEN AARONSON MISSED?!?!?!?!?!

Christian Pulisic burns Turkey right-back Zeki Celik, and gets in on goal from a tight angle. His shot is saved, and cannons back out to Aaronson on the penalty spot, but the Leeds winger doesn’t realize how much time he truly had to shoot at an open net with the goalkeeper down on the ground, and he tries to one-touch redirect it into the net.

Instead, he fumbles the hard-hit ball and flashes it way wide! Oh dear, what a huge missed opportunity!

58th min: Substitution

11:21 p.m. ET: Here comes Christian Pulisic for the final 30 minutes of the match. He replaces Tim Weah, who had a very rough game on his weak side.

Risking 30 minutes of Pulisic so soon after he missed a game due to injury is aggressive, but hopefully he comes out of the match unscathed.

48th min: GOAL! USA!!!

11:11 p.m. ET: SEBASTIAN BERHALTER HAS THE EQUALIZER FOR THE UNITED STATES! WHOA! WHAT A BLAST!

The man can take a set piece, that much we know, but he also has it from open play as he fires from 21 yards out, charging onto a loose ball and ripping a blast from just outside the top-left corner of the penalty area! He drives the ball down into the ground, as it skips off the wet grass and under a leaping Weston McKennie. Have a hit!

Watch in USA:

2-2! SEBASTIAN BERHALTER FINDS THE EQUALIZER FOR THE @USMNT 🇺🇸

He brings the ball all the way back to the center of the pitch pic.twitter.com/QFAKNZbRMj

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 26, 2026

2nd half kickoff

11:07 p.m. ET: No changes for either side as they begin the second half, which isn’t a huge surprise. Mauricio Pochettino will be rolling with these same guys, and hope that they can carry this team back to a level score.

HALFTIME: USA 1-2 Turkey

10:52 p.m. ET: The USMNT backups find themselves a goal down to Turkey as they head to the dressing room for halftime. There has been very good energy from both teams, and the U.S. is right in this, but there are a few problems for Mauricio Pochettino to solve at the break.

Tim Weah is struggling on the left, the opposite wing he normally plays. It could be worth moving him back to his natural right side, and either flipping Brenden Aaronson over to the left, or bringing on Haji Wright for that position.

Sebastian Berhalter is doing his best at the No. 6, which is not his natural position, but he’s on a yellow card which feels nervy. Unfortunately, there’s nobody to sub him with, as Cristian Roldan is injured and unavailable, and they aren’t risking Tyler Adams who is in danger of picking up a yellow card suspension.

45+3 min: Chance, USA!

10:49 p.m. ET: Auston Trusty leaps high to meet a corner, but heads the ball over the crossbar! A big chance there!

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Watch in USA:

Auston Trusty looking for his brace 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/QVcoegrURx

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 26, 2026

45th min: Chance, USA!

10:45 p.m. ET: Weston McKennie blasts a long-distance shot that forces an awkward save from Ugurcan Cakir! The ball is bouncing along the ground on its way through and takes a slight deflection, but the Turkey goalkeeper manages to parry the ball away to his right!

31st min: GOAL! TURKEY!!!

10:32 p.m. ET: A stunning goal for Turkey as they pass straight through the United States and Orkun Kokcu finishes it off with a slide! It’s pinged between Kenan Yildiz, Arda Guler, and then Eren Elmali who gets free vertically down the left and sends a cross to the doorstep where Kokcu meets it for the redirect!

The U.S. was unable to keep up with that glorious, slick play from the Europeans!

Watch in USA:

A beautiful team goal from Türkiye for the lead over the US!

Orkun Kökçü slots it home 🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/LFFYhTzIyC

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 26, 2026

29th min: Chance, USA!

10:30 p.m. ET: MARK MCKENZIE SCORES A SLOPPY GOAL OFF A CORNER! BUT NO! IT’S RULED OUT FOR OFFSIDE!

There’s an initial shot from a U.S. player that deflects off a defender, and it falls into the path of McKenzie for a poked finish from point-blank range!

Watch in USA:

Mark McKenzie nearly gives the @USMNT the lead but the flag is up for offside pic.twitter.com/KXmlEcOjUi

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 26, 2026

28th min

10:28 p.m. ET: There’s a flash point here as Mark McKenzie is bulldozed by a Turkey forward as he tries to chest down a ball and release a pass. They get up and go face-to-face, while the referee plays advantage to the United States, but somehow no call is made.

24th min: Hydration break

10:25 p.m. ET: Mauricio Pochettino is leading an intense team talk for the United States as they try to clean things up in this level match. They’ve shown a ton of energy so far, but it’s been a bit sloppy from the USMNT in possession. Let’s see if they can clean it up.

19th min: Yellow card

10:20 p.m. ET: Sebastian Berhalter picks up the first booking of the match, as he cuts down Salih Ozcan in midfield who is writhing in agony.

Every single time there is a decision (or no-call) the Turkey bench is going ballistic screaming at the center referee and the fourth official. They have to calm down or it’s going to be a long evening for the officiating crew.

10th min: GOAL! TURKEY!!!

10:12 p.m. ET: Oh dear, what a disaster at the back for the United States, as Arda Guler scores to level it up!

Mark McKenzie is out-muscled twice in one-on-one defending, and the Europeans are tied up. First he’s beaten by Baris Yilmaz as he bursts vertically forward on the ball, and then he cuts across to pick up Guler but he gets bodied off the ball before the finish from 14 yards out. These backup defenders on the USMNT are well known for individual errors, and there were a bunch of them on that play. Yikes!

Watch in USA:

WE ARE LEVEL IN LOS ANGELES 🇹🇷

Arda Güler has the equalizer for Türkiye! pic.twitter.com/qB9zoYXumY

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 26, 2026

3rd min: GOAL! USA!!!

10:05 p.m. ET: A pair of corners turn profitable for the United States as they score early! It’s Auston Trusty who fires home from a tight angle!!!!! LOOK WHAT IT MEANS TO HIM!

The first corner sees a mad scramble in front of the net, and Weston McKennie fires on frame but he puts it straight at the goalkeeper and it’s saved out wide.

The ensuing corner sees the goal scored, as Sebastian Berhalter’s delivery falls right to the feet of Trusty at the far post, and he takes a beautiful first touch to settle the ball. As Turkey are slow to react, he winds up and blasts the ball past the goalkeeper!!!

Watch in USA:

EARLY MAGIC ONCE AGAIN FOR THE @USMNT 🇺🇸

Another look at Auston Trusty’s first career goal pic.twitter.com/yQgwDR73Hi

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 26, 2026

Kickoff

10 p.m. ET: This match is under way! While it doesn’t mean anything to either team, both sides will want to finish strong for various reasons. Here we go!

Prematch

15 mins to kickoff (9:45 p.m. ET): With so many changes from Mauricio Pochettino tonight, Weston McKennie will wear the armband for the United States against Turkey. Kickoff is right around the corner!

🇺🇸 @USMNT star Weston McKennie will captain the squad tonight, and he told @JennyTaft it means everything to him pic.twitter.com/rbn6A2iTE0

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 26, 2026

30 mins to kickoff (9:30 p.m. ET): If anyone knows a thing or two about confidence it’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and he thinks that will be a big boost for the USMNT heading into the knockout stage if they can get a win today.

Zlatan speaks about the confidence the @USMNT has right now 🇺🇸@Ibra_official pic.twitter.com/OcGdrpNhxa

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 26, 2026

45 mins to kickoff (9:15 p.m. ET): A couple of lineup records have fallen for the USMNT at a FIFA World Cup with all the changes Pochettino has made.

The U.S. makes nine lineup changes tonight, setting USMNT World Cup records with a total of…

🇺🇸 21 different starters (Previous record: 17 in 1998)

🇺🇸 22 different players appearing (Previous record: 20 in 2022)

— Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) June 26, 2026

1 hour to kickoff (9 p.m. ET): The next opponent for the United States has now been confirmed officially as the USMNT will meet Bosnia & Herzegovina in the Round of 32. For a while, this has been the overwhelmingly likely outcome, but it has only just now been recently guaranteed as Bosnia & Herzegovina were officially qualified to the knockout stage as a third-place finisher thanks to other outside results.

1 hour 15 mins to kick (8:45 p.m. ET): Lineups are in! As expected, Mauricio Pochettino completely shuffles the deck, making nine changes to the starting lineup from last time out against Australia. Only Weston McKennie, who wears the captain’s armband, and Ricardo Pepi, remain in the XI.

For Turkey, head coach Vincenzo Montella has made a number of big calls, sitting veterans Hakan Calhanoglu and Merih Demiral. Arda Guler starts, despite having fallen victim to wasting possession with long-distance shots.

1 hour 30 mins to kick (8:30 p.m. ET): The United States has a chance tonight to do something they’ve never done, which is win three group games in a single World Cup.

2 hours to kickoff (8 p.m. ET): Team USA fans are ROWDY just outside of SoFi Stadium. Even though the U.S. has already finished atop Group D, the Stars and Stripes faithful still want a good result regardless of the situation.

USA! USA! USA! 🗣️

Fans in LA are READY for the @USMNT’s final group stage match as @RobStoneONFOX, @CarliLloyd, @clint_dempsey, and @AlexiLalas preview USA vs Türkiye pic.twitter.com/vdPALVr2CY

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 25, 2026

3 hours to kickoff (7 p.m. ET): Earlier this week, USMNT’s Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Alejandro Zendejas were reportedly stranded after going to get pizza. Peter Rutzler reports that a car accident shut their way back to the hotel, and the group was unable to walk back due to Pulisic’s injury.

Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Alejandro Zendejas were stranded on Sunday after going to get pizza, as a car accident shut their way back to the hotel. With Pulisic carrying a knock, they couldn’t walk back.

Step forward Cole Schamber, of CS carts, who offered to drive…

— Peter Rutzler (@peterrutzler) June 25, 2026

3 hours to kickoff (7 p.m. ET): Let’s take a look at which USMNT players are not expected to start in tonight’s match against Turkey, according to Fox’s Jenny Taft.

An update from @JennyTaft as the @USMNT looks to secure all 9 points in Group D vs Türkiye tonight pic.twitter.com/902yp7LA1V

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 25, 2026

5 hours to kickoff (5 p.m. ET): It is considered likely that Mauricio Pochettino rotates his squad heavily for this match. As much as the U.S. coaching staff would like to win every match at the World Cup to give them more confidence heading into the knockout stage, there are bigger fish to fry in this tournament. Risking the likes of Christian Pulisic (fitness), Tyler Adams (yellow card suspension), or Chris Richards (yellow cards suspension) would be a silly thing to do.

Expect a host of squad rotation today, possibly even beyond those three stars.

MORE USMNT NEWS:

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• Inside USA’s losing stream to Europe since 2021
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Where to watch USA vs. Turkey in World Cup

USA vs. Turkey start time

• Date: Thursday, June 25, 2026
• Kickoff: 7 p.m. local PT / 10 p.m. ET

The match between the United States and Turkey will begin at 7 p.m. local time outside Los Angeles, California.

What channel is USA vs. Turkey on today?

Here is where the World Cup match between the United States and Turkey can be found televised in some major territories around the world, as well as streaming online.

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USA World Cup schedule 2026

Turkey World Cup schedule 2026