The United States secured their place in the last 32 of the World Cup, despite a defeat to Turkey in Los Angeles. Kaan Ayhan scored a stoppage-time winner for Turkey, marking their first World Cup victory since 2002. This result ended the United States‘ unbeaten run in the tournament.
The match, held in a festive atmosphere with notable personalities in attendance, saw the United States take an early lead. Auston Trusty, a defender, scored just two minutes and 13 seconds into the game, converting a low shot after being left unmarked from a corner. This goal is recorded as the second-quickest ever for the US at a World Cup.
Turkey’s Comeback and Equaliser
Despite the early setback, Vincenzo Montella‘s Turkey side, who had previously lost their opening two games, quickly found their rhythm. Arda Guler equalised with Turkey‘s first goal of the tournament, finishing from close range after a pass from Baris Alper Yilmaz. The momentum continued for Turkey as Orkun Kokcu‘s shot appeared to deflect off Yilmaz‘s thigh, completing a sweeping move down the left side that involved Guler, turning the match in their favour.
Mauricio Pochettino‘s team, the United States, showed renewed intensity after half-time. They drew level with a 20-yard effort from Sebastian Berhalter, which found the bottom left corner of the net. Substitute Christian Pulisic had several opportunities to score, with Turkey goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir making a notable save to tip one effort onto the post.
At the other end, Kenan Yildiz curled a shot wide, and Yilmaz lost his footing when in a good scoring position. However, Ayhan ultimately secured the win for Turkey by converting Can Uzun‘s touch towards goal in the final moments of the game.
Looking Ahead for the United States
While Turkey will exit the tournament after finishing at the bottom of their group, the United States, having secured top spot with a previous win over Australia, will progress. Their next fixture is scheduled for 2 July at 01:00 BST in Santa Clara, where they are set to face Bosnia-Herzegovina in the last 32 of the competition.
Meanwhile, in another Group D match, Paraguay and Australia played at Levi’s Stadium, also known as San Francisco Bay Area Stadium during the World Cup 2026. This stadium, the home of the San Francisco 49ers, was completed in 2014 and has hosted major events, including the Super Bowl this year. The match was played under clear skies with temperatures around 20C.
The Paraguay team, known for their defensive strength and tactical discipline, often set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation during midfield pressing phases, dropping into a compact 4-4-2 when defending deep. Their approach relies on effectiveness and efficiency rather than high scoring. Julio Enciso is considered a key threat for Paraguay, starting up front alongside Gabriel Avalos.
For Australia, central defender Harry Souttar, who is 198cm tall, is expected to be a significant goal threat from set pieces, having scored international goals from 40 caps. The Socceroos were looking to secure qualification for the knockout rounds for only the third time in their history. The match was officiated by Clement Turpin, who also oversaw the 2022 Uefa Champions League final and England v Croatia at this World Cup.
The United States will play Bosnia-Herzegovina on 2 July at 01:00 BST.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
Harry Loxley is a Senior Football Correspondent at NewsGB.org. He spent his early career reporting East Midlands football. He focuses on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of Derby and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Derby, he watches non-league and runs a fan podcast. “Good football writing follows the people, not just the points.”