Los Angeles: Turkey secures first World Cup win since 2002 against USA

By Bilal Ahmed — 26 June 2026 — 3 min read

Turkey’s dramatic victory in Los Angeles

In a thrilling encounter in Los Angeles, Turkey secured their first World Cup victory since 2002, defeating the United States with a stoppage-time winner. The match saw Kaan Ayhan score with the last kick of the game, ending the co-hosts’ unbeaten start to the tournament. Despite the loss, the United States had already secured top spot in their group and will advance to the next stage of the competition.

The atmosphere in the stands was lively, with Hollywood figures such as Brad Pitt, Ed Norton, and Owen Wilson in attendance. The United States, making nine changes to their line-up, started strongly. Celtic defender Auston Trusty opened the scoring for the co-hosts just over two minutes into the game, converting a corner after being left unmarked. This goal marked the second-quickest ever scored by the US in a World Cup match.

USA’s tactical rotation and Turkey’s comeback

United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino opted for significant squad rotation, benching several key players, including Christian Pulisic. This decision was made after the USMNT had already secured their qualification for the knockout rounds and topped their group. The rotation aimed to provide opportunities for other squad members and manage the fitness of regular starters, particularly those at risk of yellow card suspensions like Folarin Balogun, Tyler Adams, Antonee Robinson, and Chris Richards.

Pulisic’s absence from the starting lineup also considered his recent return from a calf injury, which had forced him off at halftime in an earlier match against Paraguay. While he had declared himself fit, Pochettino indicated that his minutes were being carefully managed. Only Weston McKennie and Ricardo Pepi retained their places from the previous match, with McKennie captaining the heavily rotated side.

Despite the early setback, Vincenzo Montella’s Turkey side, who had lost their two opening games, quickly found their rhythm. Arda Guler scored Turkey’s first goal of the tournament, equalizing with a close-range finish from a reverse pass by Baris Alper Yilmaz. Later, Orkun Kokcu’s shot appeared to deflect off Yilmaz’s thigh, completing a sweeping move and turning the match around for Turkey.

Second half intensity and late drama

The United States returned from the half-time break with renewed intensity. Sebastian Berhalter leveled the score with a 20-yard effort that found the bottom left corner of the net. As the US pressed for a winner, substitute Christian Pulisic had three attempts on goal, one of which was brilliantly tipped onto the post by Turkey goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir.

At the other end, Kenan Yildiz curled a shot wide, and Yilmaz lost his footing in a promising position. However, it was Ayhan who ultimately secured the victory for Turkey, converting Can Uzun’s touch towards goal in the final moments of the match. This dramatic finish marked a significant moment for Turkey in the competition.

While Turkey will now exit the tournament after finishing bottom of their group, the United States, having topped their group with a win over Australia, are scheduled to face Bosnia-Herzegovina in the last 32 of the competition. This upcoming match is set for 2 July at 01:00 BST in Santa Clara.

Source: bbc.com